In my last post, I introduced the acronym you can use to remember the eight common wastes, DOWNTIME. Seven of these eight wastes were formally defined in the Toyota Production System. Non-Utilized Talent is the eighth waste that was not originally introduced through the Toyota Production System. Defects Overproduction Waiting Non-Utilized Talent Transportation Inventory Motion Extra-Processing…

I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 7th graders today about what I do as a Manufacturing Engineer. I asked them if they knew what “Lean” meant, and after a few blank stares I got my favorite response: “Lean, like meat?” I chuckled and said, “Actually, that is a great example that…