Problem solving

Explore nossos artigos, casos de estudo e treinamentos sobre solucao de problemas. Aprofunde seu conhecimento e transforme sua gestão.

Lean concepts about Problem solving

Concept

A3

A practice pioneered by Toyota in which the problem, the analysis, the corrective actions and the action plan are written on a single sheet of paper (A3 size), usually with graphs and figures. At Toyota, A3 reports evolved into a standard method for problem solving, status reporting and planning exercises such as value stream mapping. A3 is the international term for a sheet of paper 297 millimeters

Lean vocabulary

Concept

Error-Proofing

Methods that help operators avoid mistakes in their work, such as choosing the wrong part, assembling a part incorrectly, forgetting a component, etc. Also known as poka-yoke (defect-proofing) or baka-yoke (foolproofing). See : Inspection, Jidoka.

Lean vocabulary

Concept

Five Whys

The practice of asking "why?" repeatedly whenever a problem is encountered, in order to go beyond the obvious symptoms and thereby discover the root cause. See: Kaizen, PDCA.

Lean vocabulary

Concept

Four Ms

Variables manipulated by a production system with the goal of creating value for the customer. The first three refer to resources and the fourth to the way those resources are used. In a lean system, the 4Ms mean: Material - no defects or shortages. Machines - no breakdowns, defects or unplanned stoppages. Manpower - good work habits, the necessary skills, punctuality and attendance. Method - standardized processes, maintenance and management.

Lean vocabulary

Concept

LAMDA Cycle

The basic learning cycle of lean product and process development, comprising five classes of development activity: look, ask, model, discuss, and act. See : Lean Product and Process Development.

Lean vocabulary

Concept

PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act)

Improvement cycle based on the scientific method of proposing a change to a process, implementing the change, analyzing the results and taking the appropriate action. Also known as the Deming Cycle or Deming Wheel, because the person who introduced the concept in Japan in the 1950s was W. Edwards Deming.

Lean vocabulary

Concept

Poka-Yoke

See: Error-Proofing.

Lean vocabulary

Articles

Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

No problem is problem: why AI needs to stop flattering

In a corporate world that increasingly demands agility, resilience and the elimination of waste, algorithmic flattery is dangerous noise

By Flávio Battaglia

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General DIGITAL AND TECHNOLOGY

Leading in the age of AI

Between hype and skepticism, understanding the real capabilities of artificial intelligence is essential for leaders who want to apply it consistently and purposefully in their organizations.

By Art Smalley

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LeanMail MANAGEMENT

The waste the company has learned to sustain

An analysis of why organizations spend managerial energy feeding "invisible, yet visible" failures; and the mindset shift needed to break this cycle

By Flávio Battaglia, Augusto Elias R. da Fonseca

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Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

Daily management in distribution centers

This article illustrates how Daily Management (DM) was applied in a distribution center (DC) to stabilize performance and accelerate day-to-day problem solving. Although every journey is unique, the practice of DM preserves fixed elements that sustain discipline, transparency and learning, while adapting to the reality of each operation.

By Daniel Felipe de Oliveira

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General DIGITAL AND TECHNOLOGY

From Agile to Lean Tech: Theodo's journey toward learning at scale

Theodo grew from two people to 700 employees by connecting agile with lean thinking — building a learning system based on visibility, problem solving and quality.

By Roberto Priolo

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Lean It Up GENERAL

It is not the event, it is the interpretation

Instead of treating the KitKat theft episode as an institutional crisis, Nestlé poked fun at its own slogan by suggesting the thieves took "have a break" too seriously

By Flávio Battaglia

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General SERVICES

Industrializing AI for Software Development: a roadmap applicable to every sector

How is a 700-person technology company achieving 3 times the speed on modernization projects? By incorporating a century of lean manufacturing wisdom to industrialize AI-driven development — and by demonstrating a new sociotechnical path for organizations in every sector.

By Lean Institute Brasil

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General HEALTHCARE

What color is it?

A team from a Scottish university has developed a visual control for body fluids that is solving a complex problem in healthcare.

By Stephen Yorkstone, Hazel McPhillips

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General MANAGEMENT

Agribusiness: a global paradox

Lean thinking is redefining agriculture by turning farms into continuous learning systems, boosting productivity, reducing waste and empowering people through daily problem solving.

By Iniciativa Agro da Lean Global Network

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General LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Practicing visual management in logistics

How different Lean visual management practices are applied in logistics to create a collaborative management system oriented toward continuous improvement

By Daniel Felipe de Oliveira

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General HEALTHCARE

Building a learning hospital

NOTES FROM THE GEMBA – At GHU Paris (Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris), leadership combines strategy with gemba visits, problem solving using the 5C method and cross-functional learning to create a resilient, people-centered improvement culture in psychiatric care.

By Catherine Chabiron

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General STARTUPS AND NEW VENTURES

Lean without Jidoka is just Fordism

No one understands human beings as well as humans themselves, and Jidoka is the key to learning from your customers and creating ever better products and services.

By Michael Ballé

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Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

Facts or data?

Growing dependence on digital systems also brings objective risks: decisions based on biased information, simulations with fragile assumptions or content with an appearance of truth

By Flávio Battaglia

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General MANAGEMENT

Executing strategy through Daily Management

By José Roberto Ferro, Robson Gouveia

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General LEADERSHIP

Leading from the front, leading from behind the scenes

In my last article, I mentioned a common view within the Lean Community – and widely shared by the business world – that promotes the idea of the heroic leader on a white horse, facing a problematic situation, giving orders and saving the day. "The leader must lead," as the saying goes. Well, yes, the leader must lead. But what does that really mean?

By John Shook

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LeanMail CONSTRUCTION

How to “tackle” middle-management weaknesses in civil construction

Four essential practices to strengthen leadership, improve communication, reduce failures and make civil construction more efficient

By Flávio Battaglia, Renato Mariz

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General HEALTHCARE

How we gradually built our Continuous Improvement model

INTERVIEW – Cleveland Clinic has been on a lean journey for a few years. In this interview, the Director of Improvement and the Director of Nursing talk about continuous improvement, metrics and sustainable results.

By Lisa Yerianis, Meredith Foxxis

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General LEADERSHIP

Developing a purposeful lean problem-solving system

Leaders must be system architects, taking on responsibility and ownership.

By Jamie Flinchbaugh

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Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

Muri: tackling organizational overburden

"Muri" is a Japanese word that can be translated as "impossible," "unreasonable" or "excessive." It is used to describe something that is beyond limits or cannot be done, whether because it is physically or logically impossible, or because it requires an effort beyond capacity

By Flávio Battaglia

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Lean It Up SERVICES

The solution to the talent shortage may lie in World War II

ManpowerGroup's “Global Talent Shortage 2023” report shows that 77% of companies worldwide are struggling to fill positions with skilled professionals — the highest percentage recorded in the last 17 years. But a technique from the past may help solve the problem

By Flávio Battaglia

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General GENERAL

Boeing executives failed at leadership, forgot the lessons of lean

Don't blame frontline workers for systemic problems.

By Mark Graban

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Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

The art of deciding: understand the 5 stages of decision-making

In business, decision-making happens at every level, and a company's success depends on how those decisions are made

By Flávio Battaglia

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Lean It Up LEADERSHIP

Difficult conversations at work should not be avoided

Most of us tend to run away from awkward situations; but in business, avoiding difficult conversations can be the road to failure

By Flávio Battaglia

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General LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Lean Thinking practice increases productivity in Vale's railway operation

See how an application of Lean thinking practice, combining the structuring management approach known as the A3 Process with the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) tool, enabled Vale to reduce wagon lead time after Iron Ore (MFE) loading at the Bulk Transshipment Yard (PATRAG) in Ouro Preto (MG).

By José Carlos Assunção Dutra, Alvair Silveira Torres Júnior, Daniel Felipe de Oliveira

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General LEADERSHIP

Lean helps us keep our promise to the customer

To bring consistency to the service provided to customers across its network of repair shops, this Brazilian company adopted Lean Thinking. Along the way, they discovered in it a different approach to leadership.

By Mariana Camilo de Oliveira

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General SERVICES

In service of customer centricity

This Shared Services Center in Poland used lean, technology and automation to completely transform itself and deliver an ever-better experience to its customers.

By Krzysztof Drozd

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General LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN

Creating value through reverse logistics

Lean thinking enables a value-creation perspective on reverse logistics, with an application more centered on the customer experience and on leading the development of new markets.

By Alvair Silveira Torres Júnior

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LeanMail MANAGEMENT

5 ways to improve our connection with the gemba

Understand how certain practices can deepen the traditional “go see, ask ‘why’ and show respect”.

By Flávio Battaglia

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General LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN

What lean thinking reveals about logistics problems

How lean thinking helps us find a more efficient and effective path to dealing with problems.

By Alvair Silveira Torres Júnior

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General INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING

Transforming your business starts with transforming people

This Norwegian company learned that allowing each person and area to climb their own lean learning curve can move the "firefighting business" toward more strategic thinking.

By Eivind Reke, Marcin Gaarden

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Lean It Up GENERAL

Lean lessons for the climate crisis

Tackling climate change forces us to rethink everything we do as a society. Here are three lean lessons that can show us a way forward.

By Daniel T. Jones

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Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

A mix of hopes and uncertainties, 2022 will demand deeper “problem solving”

Facing yet another year without guarantees, it will be necessary to strengthen as much as possible the methods and processes that help the company adapt and respond quickly to any difficulty

By Flávio Augusto Picchi

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General GENERAL

What do you do when the problems are solved?

This packaging company in Catalonia managed to intelligently balance solving urgent problems with advancing the lean transformation. But what do you do when the problems (the incentive) are no longer there?

By Oriol Perez, Daniel Villanueva Portero, David Llovich

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General GENERAL

Reaching your organization's full potential

A visit to Turner Construction's New York business unit reveals how its leaders use the A3 process to develop their team's problem-solving capabilities

By Josh Howell

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General GENERAL

Lean decision making

As lean thinkers, our focus is on problem solving. The author explains why solving problems effectively depends on our ability to make the right decisions.

By Flávio Battaglia

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Lean It Up MANAGEMENT

Understanding reality in detail is the essence of problem solving

To do this, you need to go straight to the source, see with your own eyes and talk to the people involved

By Flávio Augusto Picchi

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