Software is a necessity in all facets of business today, but people are needed to manage the software and ensure data integrity for accurate data output. People are your most important product. Use them to continuously improve your organization. Cross-Functional Teams are a good way to use multi-talented people to solve many kinds of problems […]
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Flevy Author Spotlight: Our Interview with Lean Pioneer, Vishnu Rayapeddi
Lean Management has been an area of increasing interest for Flevy customers. As of now, we have over 300 documents related to various Lean concepts and Vishnu Rayapeddi contributed close to 100 of these documents–with a focus on training series. Vishnu is a pioneer of Lean Management, combining the power of Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecard, and other best-class […]
2 Types Of Performance Metrics Everyone Must Differentiate
There are leading and lagging indicators in business. It is important that managers understand the difference between them and ensure they have both types of metrics to get an accurate picture of performance. However, there are also some important issues to watch out for. All performance measures are, by definition, backward looking. They tell us […]
Warehouse Key Performance Indicators
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are measures of a company’s strengths and weaknesses of the business. They should be used in comparison to the external competition and internal customers to improve company’s economic standing. In Supply Chain, the warehouse is a critical function. Should products not move effortlessly within the warehouse, a business could come to face […]
Just-in-Time vs. Just-in-Case: An Inventory Dilemma
As manufacturers are reaping the benefits of Lean and Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement processes within their facilities, the importance of eliminating waste still hold sway. So the question now facing these manufacturers is this: Has the time come where Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory levels need to be changed to Just-in-Case levels? With the […]
The Art of Transforming Waste into Profit
Here’s a little different tactic from the usual idea of reducing or eliminating wastes in a manufacturing process. How about gathering the waste from the other steps in a manufacturing process and using it to make a new product? Many manufacturing firms are at a loss as what to do with by-product waste. This idea […]
Building Resilience into Supply Chains
The supply chains of most companies, large and small, exploit a world of opportunities. But, increasing global exposure comes with an increasing range of risks. These companies’ complex networks of suppliers and customers are as diverse as the goods and resources they manage. Within the same supply chain, giant multinational companies can sit side-by side […]
Want to Train Your Staff on Lean and Organizational Excellence?
Several training series have recently been published on Flevy on the management topics of Lean (Operational Excellence) and Organizational Excellence. These training series can be used for internal certification programs in organizations of all sizes. Lean Shop Floor Training Series – 8 Modules. This is a Lean training series for beginners. With this series, you can arm your […]
Our Interview with the Co-founders of TheConsultantLounge, the One-stop Hub for Consultants
We recently had the opportunity to speak with the two co-founders of TheConsultantLounge.com, Laura Woodroof (picture on the right below) and Martina Segerer. TheConsultantLounge is an online and offline community for smart and passionate management consultants who were looking to expand their network and share their experiences across the broader consulting ecosystem. Both Laura and Martina are seasoned consultants with combined […]
Flevy’s Definitive Guide to Operations
This is a guide to navigating Flevy to find the documents and other resources you need related to Business Operations. “Operations” is a broad, vague term. It can convey a lot of different meanings to different people. If you don’t find what you are looking for in this article, please email us at support@flevy.com. First, a very […]
How Top 1% Businesses Measure Their Success
Many of us have heard the old adage “What gets measured gets done.” Organisations are awash with KPIs–key performance indicators. Variously attributed to 19th Century UK Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and American author Mark Twain the oft-quoted phrase, “There are lies, damned lies and statistics,” reflects justified cynicism about the cult of measurement. The greatest […]
Lean Initiatives in the Office
Why implement Lean in the Office? If you think Lean only applies to industry and manufacturing processes, you are wrong! Here’s why: The operational efficiency of a company should not be simply restricted to the “production” side of the activity. The rapid delivery and manufacture of products is never enough if your clients are waiting […]
