Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement

The Progress Paradox: Warning Signs That Your Lean Initiative Is Going Off the Rails, Part 3

In this episode of Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement, hosts John Dyer and Dr. Mohamed Saleh continue their discussion of common signals of a lean initiative headed for failure, focusing on the symptoms of shallow problem solving and centralized continuous improvement teams. 

More Warning Signs That Your Lean Initiative Is Going Off the Rails

In this episode of Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement, hosts John Dyer and Dr. Mohamed Saleh point to symptoms within your daily management system—specifically visual boards and leader standard work—that suggest your continuous improvement initiative is floundering.

The Progress Paradox: Warning Signs That Your Lean Initiative is Going Off the Rails

Do your lean initiatives start strong but fizzle out? In this episode of Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement, hosts John Dyer and Dr. Mohamed Saleh discuss common missteps that that lead to a breakdown of lean and other continuous-improvement initiatives.

The Progress Paradox: Is Your Process Mapping Hiding the Truth?

Process mapping is a powerful improvement tool—but only when it reflects reality. Too often, ego, reputation management and fear prevent teams from exposing the uncomfortable truths about how the process actually operates.

The Progress Paradox: 5S vs 6S: Did We Misunderstand the Purpose of Safety?

Adding ‘safety’ as a sixth ‘S’ to the 5S lean tool may signal a weak underlying safety culture or a misunderstanding of the method’s original intent, say the hosts of Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement. 

The Progress Paradox- The Danger of Starting Lean with 5S

While 5S is a powerful lean tool, improper implementation can reduce it to “cosmetic theater” and fuel employee resistance.

The Progress Paradox: What Does 'Good' Look Like After Years of Lean? (Lean Series, Part 3)

If you think problems disappear in mature lean organizations, you'd be wrong. What changes is how organizations react to those problems and how leaders' roles evolve. 

When Can We Say We Are Lean, Part 2: Promise and Pitfalls of Maturity Models

Has your organization fallen prey to the three threats of lean maturity models? Dr. Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer discuss maturity model risks in this episode of Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement.