Comments on: Lazy Lean Guy

By: Lazy Lean Guy | Little Hinges

Lazy Lean Guy | Little Hinges — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 10:38:12 +0000

[…] https://oldleandude.com/2015/11/12/lazy-lean-guy/ […]

By: Fabio Gambaro

Fabio Gambaro — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:15:00 +0000

Make it easier means also make it better… no doubt!

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 19:30:32 +0000

“Rule benders” are “canaries in the coal mine” – they can signal to us that our work improvement processes are lacking. For instance, Michael’s ideas could be implement and now we have a line that is using Michael’s techniques to improve production efficiency and reduce effort. Great! Except that someone else will have a better idea, and then the rule breaking begins again. Consternation! Now our standard work is being violated!

Establishing an initial standard is easy. The hard part is figuring out how to continuously collect new data in a way that facilitates further improvement, without descending into chaos. This gets really hard, so the tendency for us managers is to insist everyone just stick to the standard because it’s easier and it makes life simpler for everyone. Voila…now you have the reincarnation of “We’ve always done it this way.”

Bruce (and others) – I would be interested in how you have managed (and perhaps failed to manage!) continuous improvement upon standard work.

By: Bret Watson

Bret Watson — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 20:27:19 +0000

Respect for the individual is a lean tenet. Helping to make work easier means a safer, more positive environment. Lazy is old school. I see that in my parent company overseas often. You can never win w/ that attitude b/c someone will knock you off.

By: Jeff Geisler

Jeff Geisler — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 19:27:22 +0000

Spot on article OLD! You just can’t make this stuff up…

As an aside, I got “lazy” in 1981 when Lotus 123 came along, and I’ve made a good living being lazy ever since.

By: Mark Graban

Mark Graban — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:12:57 +0000

It’s a fine line between lazy and efficient. I think one key difference is what you do with the time that’s freed up… play Sudoku or spend more time on problem solving or value added work?

By: Kevin Kobett

Kevin Kobett — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:30:09 +0000

The first step in a lean transformation should be to ask all employees for a list of past achievements. These are your leaders, trainers and role models. As you said, it is likely they are being persecuted.

By: toastguy

toastguy — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 19:08:37 +0000

Thanks for your comments. Jason – the foreman might have come around, but died too soon. Michael was promoted to group leader. Sometimes the good guys win.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 16:26:27 +0000

Well said Bruce. Whatever happened to the people in your story? Did Michael get promoted and help drive transformation forward? Did the foreman come around, or did you have to “free up his future”, and that of some of the other anchor draggers?

By: Bob Whittenberger

Bob Whittenberger — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:26:05 +0000

Great post Bruce! I think many times leaders relate making it easier on the people as being less productive or just slowing down the process and thus adding cost. Your example of Michael’s natural tendency to make it easy for him to do the work also makes him more productive and a more engaged employee. Only if leaders are open to listening to his ideas. Imagine if everyone’s input was listened to and leaders encouraged them to make the work easier. How engaged and more productive would the people in this company be?
Thanks, I passed this on to all of our leaders.