Welcome to the second episode of our Lean Tool Basics series. Where we going into a little more detail about the tools in our Lean Tool Box. This month we will be learning about Linkage & Flow. Why is Linkage & Flow so important? Why does Leanbrella view this as the most important concept in a Continuous Improvement Journey? Listen to find out more!

Starting off our "Lean Tool Basics" Lecture Series: Let's 5S your life! If you've been introduced to Lean in any way shape or form, the first tool to be introduced is always 5S. The 5S's include: Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, Sustain. Some of the S's are changed to meet the organization's preference or company culture language preferences; including the occasional 6th S of Safety. Any act of cleaning up, cleaning out, and organizing can be considered a 5S activity. Listen to learn more!

Facilitating Storm requires a unique skillset. Like with choosing team members or a leadership team member, choosing the right Sensei or Leanierologist (as Leanbrella calls us) for the right problem can be critical. The Culture Climate of the organization will dictate the right type of individual to facilitate through the five stages of grief of the Lean/Continuous Improvement Journey into unchartered waters. The more experienced the facilitator, the more successful the team will be!

Handling the Storm is the final phase of a Continuous Improvement Journey and is the ability that the team or individual has to face the oncoming storm. This is the most difficult stage to sustain as individuals and team-members start to progress through the five stages of grief. Many end up abandoning their efforts; but the reward is at the end if they endure the gale force winds!

Preparing for the Storm is the second phase to a Continuous Improvement Journey and is the outward display of confidence that the team or individual has as they begin to face the oncoming storm. Just as our natural instinct is to put on a coat in stormy weather, it is a natural instinct to educate or prepare before an issue or problem's arrival. Preparation is Empowerment.

Identifying the Storm requires that the Problem Solver (Storm Watcher, Storm Chaser, Leanierologist) asks "What problem are you trying to solve?" Getting to the root cause is necessary to ensure the right solutions can be put in place to resolve the problem. In the Continuous Improvement world this process is more commonly known as 5 Whys, Root Cause Analysis, etc. Even though there are formal processes that can be followed, we may be using the same principles in our personal lives without realizing it, most people don't want to "take a towel into a rain storm".

Culture Climate with Leanbrella looks at the individual and focuses on their strengths. As the understanding of the individual's strengths are increased, they then begin to see how they fit into the bigger picture...their workplace, their family, etc.

Introducing you to a new way of thinking: Forecast Forum where we report how Lean/Continuous Improvement practices and theory apply to the professional and personal storms in our lives.