Lean and Quality Consulting
You have taken the first step on an exciting
journey that is the key to unlocking the true potential of your
business. Part of the excitement of our lean, green and quality solution
is that the journey includes the involvement of all associates -- no one
gets left behind on this journey.
If you have comments or questions, let us know by
clicking Contact Us. Thanks for visiting and be sure to check back often
for updated information.
Let's begin!
Is your Continuous Improvement initiative getting you identifiable improvements in quality, delivery, cost, and growth? Can you see a positive effect on your financial performance? Is it tied to your business strategy? Does it deal with your entire supply chain? Does it snap into focus your value chain?
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If not, the Tiny Green Cabins, LLC can absolutely help you.
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Even if you are getting positive results from your present Lean or Quality Initiative, the odds are high that Tiny Green Cabins, LLC can improve those results.
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If you do not have a Lean or Quality Initiative, we can help you even more.
I am Jim Wilkins and have been involved in lean and quality processes for 20+ years; TQM, Quality, Baldridge, Lean, Kaizens, and Continuous Improvement. While I was working as a senior estimator and being the departments quality go-to-guy, at a large construction company, I asked the Quality Director, Dr Jean Bronk, “How can I learn more about quality and quality processes? She directed me to MN Council for Quality for hands on experience and training on Baldrige criteria and I later joined the organization as a volunteer evaluator and then as a supporting member. Thru their seminars, extensive training, best practices I have gained valuable knowledge, experience and understanding of good and best business practices, what works and more importantly what does not work.
For me, all the processes have the similar goals, the differences being tools and tool boxes for achieving those goals. One factor that most effects the bottom line is waste, be it in the office environment, the plant floor, or the remote job site. The elimination of that “waste” can make your company more profitable and streamlined to be a strong competitor in your marketplace.
I am fascinated with data and not just any old data, but good solid data that is collected to make good decisions for implementing long range strategic planning. A good question to ask before collecting data is “What decisions will I need to make?” and then collect pertinent data to aid in making those decisions. Be it a manufacturer, nonprofit or church, retailer, or other type of consumer based business, good collected data can pinpoint challenges and keep you out of dead end cul-de-sacs!
Non profits or churches? Yes, they also want to be profitable and give their members new programs, benefits, and to do that they need to operate in the black and have funds left over to expand programs.
What is LEAN?
LEAN is a strategy that focuses on the elimination of waste so each step in a process creates value for the customer.
What is Waste?
Waste is anything that consumes time or resources but does not add value to the product or service, as viewed from the perspective of the customer.
Elements of LEAN
• Define value from the customer’s perspective
• Identify the value stream
• Make the process flow
• Pull from the customer
• Improve continually
The LEAN Process
• Identify the current state
• Design a desired future state
• Develop a plan
• Assign improvement teams
• Improve
Goals of a LEAN Enterprise
1. Eliminate Waste
2. Reduce Lead Time
3. Reduce Total Costs
4. Improve Quality
LEAN Tools
• Value Stream Mapping
• Plant Layout
• Cell Design
• Line Balancing
• Process Flow Analysis
• Quick Changeover
• 5S and Visual Controls
• Kanban
• Kaizen
• Pull Scheduling
• One Piece Flow
• Time-Motion Study
• Total Productive Maintenance
• ISO-9001
• Statistical Process Control
• Six Sigma
• Error Proofing
• Team Building
• Product Design
• Business Process Re-engineering
What Others Say about Jim . . .
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"Has a knack for seeing ways to do more with less."
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"Listens to what others have to say."
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"Jim is always there - you can count on him."
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"He's very tenacious, sticks with it until it gets done."
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“A natural-born problem solver and leader; attacks problems with relish”
We are confident that, with our proactive approach, we can position your organization as a more profitable, world class Lean & Quality producer. Please contact us to discuss your needs and how utilizing quality lean initiatives and solutions can help you reach revenue, profit and growth objectives.
Whatever you do--
Retain a person who offers to be a key Lean or Quality Consultant if, as a minimum:
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Their roots are firmly in the Toyota Production System or Baldrige Criteria
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They have implemented Lean or Quality while in a top operational position and worked lean or quality in the trenches
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They offer a comprehensive Lean or Quality Business System, not just tool events
The Baldrige Criteria are built upon a set of core values and concepts that include visionary leadership, customer-driven excellence, valuing employees and partners, management by fact, and a focus on results and creating value. These core values are embedded in the seven Baldrige Categories:
1. Leadership
2. Strategic Planning
3. Customer/Patient/Student and Market Focus
4. Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management
5. Workforce Focus
6. Process Management
7. Results
Enjoy your Lean and Quality Journey. It can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life as it continues to be for me.
To help you on the early part of this journey you will find it helpful to do some focused reading. Our own reading list on Lean has become very, very long. Our recommendations to the newcomer, in priority order, of just five are: Lean Thinking; The Toyota Way; Toyota Production System: Beyond Large Scale Production; The Toyota Way Fieldbook; Learning to See; Insights to Performance Excellence 2009-2010: An Inside Look at the 2009-2010 Baldrige Award Criteria
Much good literature is available at http://www.lean.org/Lean/BookStore/ProductCatalog.cfm