The KaiZone

Improving the business of life

What is Your Vision of Lean?

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The KaiZone Community Outreach

Lean thinking is a journey of learning.  I believe that we learn best when we learn from each other.  The KaiZone Community Outreach is a monthly series designed to promote interesting, thoughtful and entertaining discussion on a wide variety of Lean-related topics.  By contributing to the discussion, you help us all to move forward on our personal Lean journeys, one comment at a time.  That’s The KaiZone Way.

In a few seconds, I want you to sit back and relax.  Close your eyes, and in as much detail as you can, create a mental picture of what a Lean process looks like.  Not just any Lean process, but the ideal Lean process.  What is the physical layout of the process?  How do the materials flow?  How do the people perform their work?  I’m serious.  Take a full minute and do it now.  I’ll wait . . .

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The Tesla Model S: Is It Lean?

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Tesla Model S

I need your help!

It all started with a simple email.  A friend sent me a video clip last week that that sparked a quite a bit of debate between the two of us.  Ten or so email exchanges later, and we agreed to disagree.  Now I want you to weigh in!

Last year, Wired produced a video series entitled A Peek Inside Tesla’s Robotic Factory.  In the three part series, we get a detailed look at the end-to-end process – from incoming raw materials through final inspection – for the assembly of the modern marvel of automobile engineering and design that is the Tasla Model S.  The factory, set in the former NUMMI production facility, is simply awesome to see in action, with more than 160 high-tech robots performing an intricate mechanical ballet to assemble the sleek sedan.  And while there are many words that we could use to describe the process, would  “Lean” one of them?

The Tesla Model S process: Is it Lean???*

I’ve linked to the three videos below.  Watch for yourself and let me know what you think!  Share your comments in three different ways:

  1. Click on the title of this article and use the comments section at the bottom of the page.
  2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet at me (@TheKaiZone).
  3. Connect with me on LinkedIn and post a reply to the thread for this article.

I will update this page throughout the week with a summary of all three discussion threads.  Check back often and make your voice heard!

*I am asking this question knowing full well that it is highly flawed.  There is no right or wrong answer.  However, the debate gets to the core of exactly what is “Lean”, and that’s something from which we can all learn a great deal.