Addicted to Japanese quality! Kubota, Toyota, Lexus, & Komatsu!

Paul Akers discusses the importance of long term thinking when seeing waste and and doing Lean.

For the first time, a woman will lead all operations at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky. Congratulation Susan Elkington! To read the article, press here.

“Susan, the Lean community wishes you the very best. You are an example of everything right about Lean leadership. We are looking forward to the excellence your leadership will provide and teach us all!” ~Paul

As an entrepreneur, manufacturer, author, speaker, and consultant I love questions? When people ask questions I know what they’re thinking. And if I know what they’re thinking, I have the best opportunity to help them whether it be on the shop floor in my manufacturing plant or consulting with companies around the world. Questions should come fast and furious and with as many as possible because that’s when the real learning occurs. To read more of Paul Akers’ article in the Lean Construction Blog, press here.

“‘I’ve noticed in my time at Toyota that the environmental lens is a way of focusing problem solving,’ says Ryan McMullan, environmental and safety manager for Toyota. Back in the 1950s, when Toyota put forward the idea of continuous improvement, eliminating various kinds of waste from production became an important step in the process. Now that step includes identifying wasted resources such as water, fuel, and materials. ‘The approach Toyota took allowed environmental and financial success to go hand in hand,’ McMullan says.” To read this whole post by Alyssa Danigelis in Environmental Leader, press here.

On this week’s show, Paul Akers shares the story of Sakichi Toyoda, often referred to as the father of the Japanese industrial revolution, and the founder of Toyota Industries.

Paul Akers and the Leadership Team from the BI Group travel to Japan to further their education on Lean and here is a overview of the entire visit.

Paul Akers and the Leadership Team from the BI Group travel to Japan to further their education on Lean. Do you regularly check your suppliers’ quality?

Paul Akers and the Leadership Team from the BI Group travel to Japan to further their education on Lean. Do you regularly spend time on the shop floor?

Paul Akers and the Leadership Team from the BI Group travel to Japan to further their education on Lean. Is your goal zero inspections?