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Problem Solving – All Buck and No Bang

15 February, 2016 by James Lawther 6 Comments

quick fix

There are two ways to solve a problem: First order problem solving: Also known as the quick fix. This type of problem solving removes the issue.  E.g. getting the information you need to finish a task.  But it doesn’t do anything to stop the problem happening again. Fixing a problem this way often causes a […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement Tagged With: collaboration, problem solving, rework, root cause analysis, work around

The Stop Button

6 April, 2014 by James Lawther 8 Comments

How does your stop button work? If you walk around a manufacturing plant you will see that every machine has a stop button. They are easy to spot.  They are big, round, red, attached to a bright yellow box and bear the legend STOP. Hit the stop button and the machine will come to an […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement, Tools & Techniques Tagged With: andon, best practice, customer focus, process control, rework

Where Will the Work Around Take You?

26 October, 2012 by Mark Davis 8 Comments

Work Around

This is a guest post by Mark Davis I hate to admit it, but my plumbing is starting to fail. No, not my personal plumbing – that would be another issue entirely, and one I’d be more likely to share with my physician than with an international audience. The topic here is the plumbing in […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement Tagged With: rework, waste, work around

Beware the Quick Fix

13 October, 2012 by James Lawther 4 Comments

Short Term Repair

A Definition: Short-termism: An excessive focus on short-term results at the expense of long-term interests. ~ The Financial Times A Quote: Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends. ~ Walt Disney A Proverb: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement Tagged With: make it so good they will want to come back and bring their friends, rework, short term thinking

How to Have an Easy Life: 3 Lessons from a Fireman

24 August, 2012 by James Lawther 1 Comment

Dave having a break

I am not fond of working, I want an easy life.  I’d far rather lie on a beach than be sitting in an office. My mate Dave has an easy life.  He is a fireman.  They have an easy life, all they do is sit about, waiting for a phone call, reading the paper and […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement Tagged With: automation, first call resolution, mitigating demand, rework

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