Comments for Lean America http://leanamerica.org Transforming Government by Empowering People Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:25:37 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Lean at Home by Sam Korb http://leanamerica.org/videos/lean-homes/lean-at-home/comment-page-1#comment-57 Sam Korb Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:25:37 +0000 http://leanamerica.org/?p=266#comment-57 Hey Paul- I loved the video. Your genuine dedication and appreciation of Lean shine through. The smile I had on my face throughout changed into hearty laughter when you pulled out the hair dryer. That made my day. Yours, Sam Korb Hey Paul-

I loved the video. Your genuine dedication and appreciation of Lean shine through.

The smile I had on my face throughout changed into hearty laughter when you pulled out the hair dryer. That made my day.

Yours,
Sam Korb

]]> Comment on Newt Gingrich by Brent rogers http://leanamerica.org/videos/lean-governments/250/comment-page-1#comment-50 Brent rogers Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:48:39 +0000 http://leanamerica.org/?p=250#comment-50 As a passionate lean thinker and who is proud to be an American, it is refreshing to see that politicians are starting to take notice of lean. I think Newt is on the right track but my opinion is that we need to start implementing lean at the local levels of government first which can be implemented and sustained faster. This is a great website! Keep up the good work! As a passionate lean thinker and who is proud to be an American, it is refreshing to see that politicians are starting to take notice of lean. I think Newt is on the right track but my opinion is that we need to start implementing lean at the local levels of government first which can be implemented and sustained faster.

This is a great website! Keep up the good work!

]]> Comment on LEAN in the Church by Connie Buskness http://leanamerica.org/videos/lean-organizations/lean-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-48 Connie Buskness Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:58:16 +0000 http://leanamerica.org/?p=225#comment-48 Paul - AWESOME! Thank you for sharing all these videos and information. I worked as an engineer in manufacturer for a LEAN company for 10 years. Now, I'm starting a service company with the goal of streamlined work processes and building leaders. As I've been working on the company, I didn't even put together that I was applying the Six Sigma and Lean training I had received. What I saw was waste and inefficient struggling companies everywhere, and I wanted to create something better to make people's life more enjoyable! Bottom line - I know it works and my goal is to make a service work successful with an empowered team and continuous improvement. Thanks again! Connie Paul – AWESOME! Thank you for sharing all these videos and information. I worked as an engineer in manufacturer for a LEAN company for 10 years. Now, I’m starting a service company with the goal of streamlined work processes and building leaders. As I’ve been working on the company, I didn’t even put together that I was applying the Six Sigma and Lean training I had received. What I saw was waste and inefficient struggling companies everywhere, and I wanted to create something better to make people’s life more enjoyable!

Bottom line – I know it works and my goal is to make a service work successful with an empowered team and continuous improvement.

Thanks again!
Connie

]]> Comment on LEAN in the Church by Paul http://leanamerica.org/videos/lean-organizations/lean-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-40 Paul Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:32:16 +0000 http://leanamerica.org/?p=225#comment-40 Sam, thank you so much for your comment. I've created an <a href="http://leanamerica.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/reply-to-sam-20110809.m4a" rel="nofollow">audio reply</a> to your comment using WaxMail, an incredible application. Please let me know if you have trouble listening to it. Sam, thank you so much for your comment. I’ve created an audio reply to your comment using WaxMail, an incredible application. Please let me know if you have trouble listening to it.

]]> Comment on LEAN in the Church by Sam Lines http://leanamerica.org/videos/lean-organizations/lean-in-the-church/comment-page-1#comment-39 Sam Lines Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:49:43 +0000 http://leanamerica.org/?p=225#comment-39 Paul, That was an inspiring message. This is the first time I have ever heard someone tie the principles of Lean to the teachings of Jesus. This is so true though. The first principle you mentioned, respect people, is so close to the Christian directive of "go...and make disciples." I very much look forward to meeting you in October at the NPCA Convention. Paul,
That was an inspiring message. This is the first time I have ever heard someone tie the principles of Lean to the teachings of Jesus. This is so true though. The first principle you mentioned, respect people, is so close to the Christian directive of “go…and make disciples.” I very much look forward to meeting you in October at the NPCA Convention.

]]> Comment on Article: Involve Employees in Lean Manufacturing Techniques by Keshav Sharma http://leanamerica.org/lean-news/article-involving-employees-in-lean-manufacturing-techniques/comment-page-1#comment-35 Keshav Sharma Fri, 22 Apr 2011 23:11:47 +0000 http://leanamerica.org/?p=180#comment-35 It is most important to involve people for sustaing the continuous improvement. It is most important to involve people for sustaing the continuous improvement.

]]> Comment on What is Lean? by JohnB http://leanamerica.org/comment-page-1#comment-18 JohnB Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:22:59 +0000 http://74.53.189.3/~fastcap/wp#comment-18 I think some education in how money actually works may be in order at this time before we can continue. Much of what we are discussing is entirely dependent upon creating new debt for our national economy 'pyramid' to continue. This short video will impartially explain the real reason behind the bank bailouts, why current & past administrations have had so many former Fed-Reserve executives working for it, and why our elected officials sold us into massive, intractable debt as their solution to keep the banking system from collapse. Please enjoy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIIAvdJvCes and the follow up - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_doYllBk5No If after understanding the simple truth about 'debt' you still feel that 'Lean America' is a viable solution I will be happy to debate / discuss those beliefs based upon exactly what public interest issue ( not business or private ) this philosophy is addressing. I think some education in how money actually works may be in order at this time before we can continue. Much of what we are discussing is entirely dependent upon creating new debt for our national economy ‘pyramid’ to continue. This short video will impartially explain the real reason behind the bank bailouts, why current & past administrations have had so many former Fed-Reserve executives working for it, and why our elected officials sold us into massive, intractable debt as their solution to keep the banking system from collapse.

Please enjoy -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIIAvdJvCes
and the follow up -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_doYllBk5No

If after understanding the simple truth about ‘debt’ you still feel that ‘Lean America’ is a viable solution I will be happy to debate / discuss those beliefs based upon exactly what public interest issue ( not business or private ) this philosophy is addressing.

]]> Comment on What is Lean? by Bob L http://leanamerica.org/comment-page-1#comment-17 Bob L Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:32:15 +0000 http://74.53.189.3/~fastcap/wp#comment-17 John, I will interact with only a portion of your comments. You say, "So is it really about tightening our belts and working like machines or is the purpose of the government to protect and assure freedoms?" First, my personal experience with Lean is that it creates an environment for people to work less like machines and more like human beings, using ingenuity and creativity to solve problems and make improvements every day. Secondly, the purpose of government is to protect the citizenry from evil people and protect freedoms. If this was all the government did, we would be well served. You go on to say, " Is there anything wrong with our governmental system or is it really corruption & self interest that prohibits it from functioning as it should & was meant?" I would answer affirmatively. It is corruption and self interest that destroys all good things, including government. This was Paul's campaign message. We have ego-centric leaders who stay in office too long and perpetuate the corruption. What we desperately need are authentic and virtuous leaders who will put the country first and their own comforts second. You write, "We can’t keep creating new laws to stop a few but that ultimately restrict the freedoms of the many if we expect to make progress as a free country." Amen to that. Time to get back to the basics. A multitude of laws does not guarantee freedoms. The opposite is what we are getting. More intrusion into the lives of the citizens. Our Founders intended our government to be limited in size and scope. We are on a path of self destruction where our government is acting less like our protector and more like our oppressor. John,
I will interact with only a portion of your comments. You say, “So is it really about tightening our belts and working like machines or is the purpose of the government to protect and assure freedoms?”
First, my personal experience with Lean is that it creates an environment for people to work less like machines and more like human beings, using ingenuity and creativity to solve problems and make improvements every day.
Secondly, the purpose of government is to protect the citizenry from evil people and protect freedoms. If this was all the government did, we would be well served.
You go on to say, ” Is there anything wrong with our governmental system or is it really corruption & self interest that prohibits it from functioning as it should & was meant?”
I would answer affirmatively. It is corruption and self interest that destroys all good things, including government. This was Paul’s campaign message. We have ego-centric leaders who stay in office too long and perpetuate the corruption. What we desperately need are authentic and virtuous leaders who will put the country first and their own comforts second.
You write, “We can’t keep creating new laws to stop a few but that ultimately restrict the freedoms of the many if we expect to make progress as a free country.”
Amen to that. Time to get back to the basics. A multitude of laws does not guarantee freedoms. The opposite is what we are getting. More intrusion into the lives of the citizens. Our Founders intended our government to be limited in size and scope. We are on a path of self destruction where our government is acting less like our protector and more like our oppressor.

]]> Comment on What is Lean? by JohnB http://leanamerica.org/comment-page-1#comment-16 JohnB Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:09:22 +0000 http://74.53.189.3/~fastcap/wp#comment-16 If I misunderstood I apologize - but I was under the impression, by your site allowing comments, that you were encouraging an open & *democratic discussion of your philosophies and practices. *(republican, tea party, libertarian, etc too, for anyone misunderstanding my use of the word 'democratic' in this context). However I feel uncomfortable moving a discussion that was started in public to one that would be a 'closed door' discussion. Since your topic is a 'Lean' America I will limit the scope of my curiosity to gain more insight into your views regarding the root causes & reasons as to why we are having this discussion in the first place. Corporations need to cut cost to be profitable because they serve the shareholder and no other interest i.e. not the general public. A government (ours) has to cut costs because we have borrowed money from the Saudis & Chinese that at current interest we can never pay back. A government (ours) has to cut costs because over 42% of each tax dollar goes towards the military and now even more that we continue to borrow on a daily basis. There exist hundreds of oversight comities for almost every branch of the government that are already empowered to do exactly what you propose yet we sink deeper & deeper. I do not belittle your 'can do' spirit or successes - in fact I individually welcome them and am duly impressed. But as I mentioned before - every single oversight, auditing, budget control comity ever established has been neutered and turned to the advantage of those who control the levers. Look at Wall Street vs the Securities & Exchange commission. Look at credit card companies vs the CRA/ OCC /FTC. To date we still have no official, independent accounting of all military expenses. So these principals of yours - 'working smarter - not harder' (my take- my words) are already applied in ways light years beyond the laypersons general understanding by Corporations employing Scientists, economists, strategists, sociologists, and every other 'ist' you can think of to gain an advantage & separate the public from their money & increasingly their freedoms. We used to 'own' the air waves. Public water rights & agricultural land is being sold to private interests at an alarming rate, it goes on and on. So is it really about tightening our belts and working like machines or is the purpose of the government to protect and assure freedoms? Is there anything wrong with our governmental system or is it really corruption & self interest that prohibits it from functioning as it should & was meant? We can't keep creating new laws to stop a few but that ultimately restrict the freedoms of the many if we expect to make progress as a free country. So I feel that open discussion & a vigorous, civil exchange of ideas is the way to educate & open the eyes of everyone who has been packaged & labeled into divided camps for the purpose of 'Divide & Conquer'. If I misunderstood I apologize – but I was under the impression, by your site allowing comments, that you were encouraging an open & *democratic discussion of your philosophies and practices. *(republican, tea party, libertarian, etc too, for anyone misunderstanding my use of the word ‘democratic’ in this context).
However I feel uncomfortable moving a discussion that was started in public to one that would be a ‘closed door’ discussion.

Since your topic is a ‘Lean’ America I will limit the scope of my curiosity to gain more insight into your views regarding the root causes & reasons as to why we are having this discussion in the first place.
Corporations need to cut cost to be profitable because they serve the shareholder and no other interest i.e. not the general public. A government (ours) has to cut costs because we have borrowed money from the Saudis & Chinese that at current interest we can never pay back. A government (ours) has to cut costs because over 42% of each tax dollar goes towards the military and now even more that we continue to borrow on a daily basis. There exist hundreds of oversight comities for almost every branch of the government that are already empowered to do exactly what you propose yet we sink deeper & deeper. I do not belittle your ‘can do’ spirit or successes – in fact I individually welcome them and am duly impressed. But as I mentioned before – every single oversight, auditing, budget control comity ever established has been neutered and turned to the advantage of those who control the levers. Look at Wall Street vs the Securities & Exchange commission. Look at credit card companies vs the CRA/ OCC /FTC. To date we still have no official, independent accounting of all military expenses. So these principals of yours – ‘working smarter – not harder’ (my take- my words) are already applied in ways light years beyond the laypersons general understanding by Corporations employing Scientists, economists, strategists, sociologists, and every other ‘ist’ you can think of to gain an advantage & separate the public from their money & increasingly their freedoms. We used to ‘own’ the air waves. Public water rights & agricultural land is being sold to private interests at an alarming rate, it goes on and on. So is it really about tightening our belts and working like machines or is the purpose of the government to protect and assure freedoms? Is there anything wrong with our governmental system or is it really corruption & self interest that prohibits it from functioning as it should & was meant? We can’t keep creating new laws to stop a few but that ultimately restrict the freedoms of the many if we expect to make progress as a free country.
So I feel that open discussion & a vigorous, civil exchange of ideas is the way to educate & open the eyes of everyone who has been packaged & labeled into divided camps for the purpose of ‘Divide & Conquer’.

]]> Comment on What is Lean? by Paul Akers http://leanamerica.org/comment-page-1#comment-15 Paul Akers Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:42:53 +0000 http://74.53.189.3/~fastcap/wp#comment-15 John, I'd love to talk you. Please call me any time on my cell phone because I have a feeling we will have a lengthy conversation, and me typing a response here will not persuade you or me. I do ask you to judge me by the results that I deliver in my life. I came from nothing, I built a world-class company that's growing and has never laid anyone off. I hire people from all ethnic backgrounds and we all like each other. What more could you ask for? I'm not a magician. And I'm not perfect. John, I’d love to talk you. Please call me any time on my cell phone because I have a feeling we will have a lengthy conversation, and me typing a response here will not persuade you or me. I do ask you to judge me by the results that I deliver in my life. I came from nothing, I built a world-class company that’s growing and has never laid anyone off. I hire people from all ethnic backgrounds and we all like each other. What more could you ask for? I’m not a magician. And I’m not perfect.

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