The Fallacy of the Silver Bullet: Why a Whole System Approach is Essential for CEOs

Once, early in my career, I was standing above a Toyota assembly line in Japan. Looking down at the plant floor, I realized that at any given time, a hundred different kinds of vehicles were rolling off the line. I felt like being there and seeing all of this was essentially akin to giving away […]
Deploying a Strategic Plan for Manufacturing CEOs

In my work with companies across the manufacturing landscape, I see it all the time. While many companies are great at creating strategies, very few are adept at deploying and managing them. Many companies mistakenly view their budgeting cycle as strategy deployment, keeping their focus solely on spending money on the things they predict will […]
Driving Strategic Change Through Culture

We have a saying around here: Culture eats strategy for breakfast. In every industry, culture is a powerful force that can either propel or hinder strategic change initiatives, but nowhere is it more apparent than in manufacturing. And as the saying above suggests, a well-crafted strategy alone will not guarantee success unless it’s supported by […]
Part 2/2: The Pareto Chart — A Powerful Partner in Data Management

SOLUTION AREA: Operational Excellence
When it comes to business processes, the Pareto Principle tells it like it is: roughly 80% of outcomes are the product of 20% of causes. In the second half of our two-part series, “The Pareto Chart — A Powerful Partner in Data Management,” the CBS team looks at how the daily observation of causes and outcomes can lead to more effective analysis and problem-solving.
The Art of the Possible: Using Capability Modeling to Drive Business Change

Based on proven CBS methodology, this valuable summary will help you build a three-phase capability model that clearly demonstrates what Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be improved and how to achieve operational excellence.
Utilization of Business Diagnostic to Help Launch/Accelerate Your Improvement Strategy

Many companies that are looking to start a Continuous Improvement program know that they need to drive improvement but are unsure of where to start.
The Best Expertise to Drive Improvements for Private Equity Companies

Lean as an Integrated System
