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Benjamin A. Wilcox

Sharing Knowledge | Empowering Change | Initiating Action

Blog posts January 2025

WASTE Not, Want Not - Lean's 8 Wastes are Sabotaging your Work-Life Success!

As professionals, we always look for ways to work smarter, not harder. One of the core principles of Lean is the identification and elimination of waste - and trust me, it can make a HUGE difference in your productivity and efficiency.

In Lean, "waste" refers to ANY activity or process that does NOT ADD VALUE for the customer. For a more detailed explanation of the customer, see my article on The Voice of the Customer.


The 8 Types of Waste

1. Over-Production - Making more…

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 Posted in Lean Six Sigma

The Voice of the Customer: A 360-Degree Perspective on Value Creation

Imagine for a moment that you're holding a powerful key—a key that can unlock deeper connections, drive meaningful improvements, and transform your professional and personal interactions. This key is the Voice of the Customer (VOC). This concept goes far beyond traditional business metrics and touches the very core of human interaction.

Breaking Down the Customer Concept

When most people hear "customer," they immediately think of someone making a purchase, a consumer buying a pro…

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 Posted in Lean Six Sigma

Walking the Path to Operational Excellence: Gemba Walks

Have you ever wondered if what you think is happening in your organization matches what's occurring on the front lines? Too often, leaders rely on reports, metrics, and second-hand information to make decisions from their chairs, behind desks, and in conference rooms. However, there's a better way, a powerful concept that can transform your understanding and awareness, while engaging your workforce: Introducing The Gemba Walk.

What is a Gemba Walk?

"Gemba" is a Japanese term meaning "t…

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 Posted in Lean Six Sigma
  Tags lean thinking

The Six Thinking Hats - A Versatile Framework for Better Decision-Making

Make a change in 2025, and break the cycle of discouragement of endless debates and fruitless meetings. Have you ever searched for concepts to eliminate these types of counteractive discussions to help promote parallel thinking and encourage looking at issues from different angles?

Well, let's look at Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats methodology, which transforms the typical problem-solving and decision-making approach. Whether in team settings or individual reflection, this powerful …

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 Posted in Lean Six Sigma

Lean: A Transformative Mindset for Everyone

As we embrace 2025, I've reflected on some of my articles about Lean and its transformative potential. Previously, I unpacked many misconceptions about Lean, debunking ideas such that it’s just a management fad or a toolbox, that it's reserved for specific industries, that it can only be implemented by large organizations with immense resources, or that it is about cost-cutting or downsizing as a way to boost profits or earnings.

Instead, Lean is fundamentally a mindset for creating va…

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 Posted in Lean Six Sigma

Lean: A Transformative Approach to Elevate Your Life

Have you ever considered how the principles of Lean could entirely change your approach to challenges and enhance continuous improvement—not just in your workplace, but in your everyday life as well?

As noted in a previous article, Lean is frequently reduced to a simple toolkit for eliminating waste, for manufacturing, or as a way to cut back on staffing and resources to inflate budgets. Replace any preconceived notation and stop referring to it as Lean Manufacturing or Lean Management,…

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 Posted in Lean Six Sigma
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