I recently attended a Continuous Improvement seminar. Over-and-over again I heard company owners and managers complain that they had a great start and enjoyed some success in implementing Lean but then they got stuck. The excitement eroded, and everyday business got in the way.

Today, many companies are unknowingly leaking their profits out in a tangled web of office processes. That is because most business processes have just evolved over time as the company grew. The processes for the non-manufacturing activities are quite different from those related to producing a product. The need to create long-term strategies for manufacturing is evident as growth and changes in that area usually require new equipment, space, and people.

Hi, it’s Phyllis Mikolaitis continuing my discussion on Lean and Continuous Improvement. Today I want to discuss how getting the selling and buying processes in step can increase your close ratio and your revenue.

When most people think of LEAN and Six Sigma, they think of manufacturing, engineers, scientists, and software developers using the tools and processes to improve workflow and cut costs. However, today many customer service departments, sales and marketin

Great ideas for improvement and savings in your company come from where the action is taking place, not from reading and analyzing reports in the office. Yes, reports and textbooks are important for concepts and case studies. But, only by walking the floor in the factory or office of your company will you gain insights into your processes and get input from your employees about what’s actually happening.

Teams are more creative and achieve higher levels of production and quality than any single person. Companies that empower their teams achieve the desired level of success in implementing and sustaining Lean. Employees are not widgets. They are items in the value stream to be eliminated. Their brains, their passion, and their creativity need to be developed and nourished. The transformation of your organization depends on their involvement. You need to treat them as an asset and invest in their development just as you invest in any other asset in your company.

Today I am excited to continue my talk on successfully developing a Lean culture that will provide sustainable success.

Toyota and other Japanese firms have been successful in developing a Lean culture and In Western industry, we manage for results. We are focused on making the numbers. But, Toyota has sustained success because it focuses on improving and adapting to give customers what they want when they want it at the highest quality and affordable cost.

Hi, it’s Phyllis Mikolaitis, welcome back to our bi-monthly podcast.

Today I am excited to talk to you about how a LEAN strategy and People Centered Leadership can create an environment where your business and your employees flourish and your customers are delighted.

Storytelling as a Business Strategy is emerging as an essential skill for both leaders and salespeople in companies of any size. Today every company needs to create a strategy or a path to follow and share their brand story in multiple channels. It’s the only way to build a sustainable business for the future.

Focus can make the difference between winning and losing. Many people in sports call it being in the zone. This is especially evident when they are in events like the Olympics or the final moments of a critical game.