Stories like this have been in the news before, but this was circulating the past few days: "Why erratic schedules are one of the worst parts of low-wage work."The story refers to so-called "just-in-time" scheduling techniques that jerk employees around and disrupt lives.

It happens to share a term, "JIT" with "Lean manufacturing" or just "Lean," but it's either a coincidence or it's a bastardization of what Lean is really about. And I can prove it quite easily.

Stories like this have been in the news before, but this was circulating the past few days: "Why erratic schedules are one of the worst parts of low-wage work."The story refers to so-called "just-in-time" scheduling techniques that jerk employees around and disrupt lives. It happens to share a term, "JIT" with "Lean manufacturing" or just "Lean," but it's either a coincidence or it's a bastardization of what Lean is really about. And I can prove it quite easily.

So-Called "Just in Time" Retail Staff Scheduling is not #Lean

Lean Blog Audio is a short-form podcast featuring audio versions of articles from LeanBlog.org, written, read, and expanded by Mark Graban.

Each episode explores practical Lean thinking, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and leadership—through real-world examples from healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and other complex work environments.

Topics include learning from mistakes, reducing fear and blame, improving systems, and using data thoughtfully through tools like Process Behavior Charts. Episodes often go beyond the original blog post, adding fresh context and reflections.

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Lean Blog Audio is a short-form podcast featuring audio versions of articles from LeanBlog.org, written, read, and expanded by Mark Graban. Each episode explores practical Lean thinking, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and leadership—through real-world examples from healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and other complex work environments. Topics include learning from mistakes, reducing fear and blame, improving systems, and using data thoughtfully through tools like Process Behavior Charts. Episodes often go beyond the original blog post, adding fresh context and reflections.

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So-Called "Just in Time" Retail Staff Scheduling is not #Lean

So-Called "Just in Time" Retail Staff Scheduling is not #Lean

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