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Show ©Hilltop Times August 26, 2004 Lean pursues perfection Bull's eye! by Jim Womack Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc., president and founder Process Improvement Years ago, when I first visited Toyota in Japan, I was struck by something that seemed out of keeping with the company's continuing suc- often been marked by was too modest And, cess. Toyota employees celebrations and self- if the performance and management congratulation, no mat- did not meet expecseemed to worry all the ter how much was tations, employees time. accomplished, or how believed something I met managers who modest the improve- was wrong with the original plan. had dramatically elim- ment goal inated wasteful I was beginning to In either case, there processes during kaizen think that even smiling is no room for celeevents, and yet could- is wasteful at Toyota. brating what has been n't seem to just relax Recently, while read- achieved even if the and enjoy it. Instead, ing 'The Toyota Way," results are substantial. they were busy anaby Jeff Liker, I came The objective must be lyzing what they had across a section on "han-to either find out why just done, thinking of it didn't work, or why sei" or reflection. ways it could be even Hansei is Toyota's it didn't work even betbetter. ter. third step, in their PDCA When applied in the —Plan, Do, Check and In short, with hansei, workplace, kai2en meansAct—process for everyToyota has a formula for standardized worcontinuous, incremental improvement. Photo by Shad West First U. Joshua Massey (left) and Steve Broom watch Tech. Sgt. Andy Wlltse perform a Tactical Priority Drill. Mr. Broom who holds 31 sepimprovement involvToyota's idea is sim- rying. arate state, regional and area competition titles in Kansas, donated his time and knowledge of close-quarter shooting to the 75th Security ing everyone - manple. Every time a situ- Surely this seems Forces Squadron's Emergency Services Team during a recent visit to Utah. "This was really good training that we wouldn't have gotten agers and workers alike. ation is analyzed in the harsh. Can't these guys anywhere else," Security Forces Staff Sgt. Ryan Little said. "I know it improved my shooting." Kaizen is a key tool for workplace, it's time just have some fun? creating cultural change to reflect very carefully But the sobering realthrough the participa- on the analysis. ity of life, at least for JQBOPENINGS tion of each employee In Toyota's view, if me,is that folks who in an organization. worry every day about The following internal vacancies are projected for the performance meets Other vacancies, not listed, may also be announced. every thing are very near future: expectations, surely Eligible internal candidates should check "Search By contrast, kaizen they could have done likely to have little to GS: 318-5; 343-11; for Jobs" at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb or call events undertaken at IVRS 1-800-997-2378 for a complete list of vacancies other firms I've visited even better. The per- worry about in the long WG: 5309-10; 5350-11; 6904-6; run. formance objective WL: 8255-10. and/or to self-nominate. over the years have f, »li'Mi-•* Mme loan CORPORATION VA and VA/Utah Housing Purchase, Refinance, Construction Conventional, Jumbo, FHA Tracey Rumse.v Loan Officer Make your MOVE before rates go up! FREE pre-approvals 294-HOME (4663) ENTIRE STOCK E-mail; Tracey@TraceyRumsey.com Temperatures ore perfect for planting! NO EXCLUSIONS! CHOOSE ANY FRUIT, ANY SIZE! NO LIMITS (Coupon good thru Sept. 11, 2004) PRICES $5.49 to $7.98 SAVE $5 PER YARD! NO LIMITS YOU HAUL ONLY. SAVE NOW DAY LILLIES & HOSTA'S NOT INCLUDED (Coupon good thru Sept. 11, 2004) (Coupon good thru Sept. 11, 2004) r • -*-<*- - -•••*••- ENTIRE STOCK COMBO SALE UTAH TREE COUPON Furnace and Air Conditioning Ail work Guaranteed FREE ESTIMATES HEATINWCOOUHQ PRODUCTS Call now for 6 months same as cash! SAVE ON EVERY BENCH AND ARBOR & ALL STATUARY/MORE % DOES NOT INCLUDE PINES OR SPRUCE BUY AS MANY AS YOU WANT! (Coupon good thru Sept. 11, 2004) LOTS OF RNNUniS IN STOCK! Open Mon - Sat 8-6 / CLOSED SUNDAY OP€N UttOfl DflV 84 p (0A.C) 393-1265 773-4836 292-1636 Weber County Davis/Morgan SLC (Coupon good thru (Oct. 2, 2004) 6484 S. 2000 E. (Uintah) CALL: 479-6060 |