The Lean Office Blog

Flexibility – Handling Hurricanes in Your Office

Randy SieverSep 08, 2017 Lean Management System No Comments

Flexibility – Handling Hurricanes in Your Office

Today’s post highlights three necessary components of Lean office work needed to build a flexibility into your operation. A family friend took off earlier this week with over 500 co-workers to head down to Florida in advance of the latest hurricane....

Book Review – Andy & Me and the Hospital

Randy SieverAug 25, 2017 Lean Book Reviews No Comments

I recently finished reading Andy & Me and the Hospital: Further Adventures on the Lean Journey, the latest book from Pascal Dennis. The book is laid out in a fiction format, providing lots of interwoven storylines that make this book both enjoyable...

Problem Solving – Just Like Riding a Bike

Randy SieverAug 10, 2017 Lean Culture No Comments

Problem Solving – Just Like Riding a Bike

Lean Culture

Today’s post provides five lessons in teaching your team skills for effective problem solving. This summer, I taught my oldest son how to ride a bike without training wheels. I used to think learning to ride a bike was frightening . . . now I realize...

Free 5S Audits Module Now Available!

Randy SieverMay 16, 2017 The Lean Office No Comments

Free 5S Audits Module Now Available!

The Lean Office

Do you manage 5S Audits in Excel spreadsheets or on paper? We’ve got exciting news for you – we just released a completely free, cloud-based tool for managing your 5S Audits! By signing up for a free account, you can manage up to 20 different...

Tips for Visual Management in the Office

Randy SieverJan 09, 2017 Visual Management No Comments

Tips for Visual Management in the Office

Visual Management

Today’s post provides tips for implementing visual management in office and service environments. At the start of every year, I like to do my part to help level-load the demand of local businesses. The business I’m most concerned about as...

How the Grouch Stole Kaizen

Randy SieverDec 22, 2016 Lean Culture, The Lean Office No Comments

How the Grouch Stole Kaizen

Lean Culture, The Lean Office

‘Twas the night before Kaizen, And all through the shop, Not a machine was moving, Switches all set to “stop.” Employees and management, All tucked in their beds, With visions of improvement, Dancing in their heads. Very early the next...

Embracing Failure

Randy SieverNov 14, 2016 Lean Culture No Comments

Embracing Failure

Lean Culture

Today’s post defines what it means to embrace failure. “Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.” – John Wooden My favorite all-time interview question is simple: Tell me about a time when you tried to do something...

Iowa Lean Consortium Fall Conference

Randy SieverOct 21, 2016 Uncategorized No Comments

Iowa Lean Consortium Fall Conference

Uncategorized

This past week I had the opportunity to attend and lead a breakout session at the Iowa Lean Consortium’s annual conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition to wonderful keynotes from Richard Sheridan and Dr. Jeff Liker, there were several interesting...