Blog (2)

Frontline operator solving problems at the Gemba—engaged team in action.

Why Frontline Leadership Systems Prevent Failure

I have heard it more than once. Someone in a meeting, reflecting on a struggling area, says something like, "That leader is just not cutting it. We might need to move them out." On the surface, it...

Unlocking Human Potential in Manufacturing

The Challenge The expectations from the engineering team and executive leadership were crystal clear: “We need to double the multi-million-dollar investment.” Their minds were set on expanding...

Suggestion system board—employee ideas driving continuous improvement.

How Continuous Improvement Systems Empower People

"Didier, you can't imagine the difference this has made for me at my work." Those words stopped me. Not because they were dramatic, but because they were deeply honest. Unsolicited. Real. A few...

Structure Liberates: How Leader Standard Work Fuels Creativity, Not Control

The Persistent Myth: Leader Standard Work Kills Creativity One myth that seems impossible to shake about Leader Standard Work is this: “It kills creativity.” I hear it often, and I understand the...

Consistency Beats Talent Every Day and Twice on Sundays: The Power of Leader Standard Work

There’s an old saying in sports and business alike: “Consistency beats talent every day and twice on Sundays.” It’s a phrase that resonates deeply with those who’ve seen talented individuals fizzle...

Tier Management: What Modern Organizations Can Learn from the Catholic Church

Introduction: The Paradox of Organizational Complexity In our quest to build efficient organizations, we often fall into a common trap: adding more layers of management to solve problems of...

What Is the Score? How a Daily Management System Empowers Frontline Teams to Win

Do All Your Frontline Teams Know, Analyze, and Strive to Improve the Prior Day’s Performance as Perceived by Their Customers? It might be time to make your daily huddles, visual team boards, and...

Huddle Boards in Lean Management: Tool or Costly Wallpaper?

Introduction In many organizations striving for operational excellence, huddle boards in Lean management have become a familiar fixture. They hang in break rooms, hallways, and team areas, often...

What Is Your Huddle Board Really Telling You??

Introduction: In many organizations striving for operational excellence, the huddle board is a deceptively simple but powerful visual tool. On the surface, it's just a board with charts, metrics,...

Huddle at tier board aligning shift goals with organization's needs.

What Message Needs to Move Up? Rethinking Tiered Management

Understanding Tiered Management: A Support System for Daily Operations In many organizations, tier meetings are seen as routine — another standing point in the day’s rhythm. Yet beneath that...

Strategy Deployment and Operational Improvement: A Crucial Distinction for Sustained Success

The Leadership Conversations That Keep Returning Over the past few weeks, several senior executives have reached out to discuss strategy deployment. It is a topic that always seems to resurface,...

Leader standard work checklist ensuring clarity and sustained performance.

Leader Standard Work: Sustaining Improvement Through Leadership Discipline

🎯 Insight In a Lean environment, even the most effective process improvements can unravel if leadership behaviors remain unchanged. A team may eliminate waste, streamline workflows, and improve...

Lean Insights & Proven Strategies for Manufacturers

Browse dozens of articles packed with practical tips on stabilizing operations, engaging teams, and scaling sustainably with confidence.