Amazon is one of the most prominent retailers in the world, handling billions of dollars worth of transactions and delivering millions of products to consumers every year. It goes without saying that Amazon's warehouses are tremendously efficient to handle all of that activity without missing a beat, even in traditionally busy times for retailers such
Continue reading »Monthly Archives: "February 2013"
Bringing Lean to call centers
If businesses asked consumers what the most frustrating part of the brand-customer relationship is, having to deal with customer service over the phone would likely be towards the top of the list. Although many companies have invested substantial resources into their call centers, many are still characterized by customers spending hours at a time waiting
Continue reading »How one cardiac services department used Kaizen to improve time savings
When patients think of doctor appointments and visiting specialists at hospitals, the first thing that often comes to mind is long waiting times in cramped lobbies. Although many doctors do what they can to limit this problem, the fact of the matter is that setting up for patients can be a very time-consuming and exact
Continue reading »Three core benefits of online training
Internet speeds have improved dramatically over the past decade. At the same time, computer technology has grown more powerful, enabling people to access the web from even small mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. As such, many businesses have been taking advantage of the internet and new technologies to revolutionize the way they operate.
Continue reading »Making sustainability more than a buzzword
“Best of breed,” “value-added,” “synergy,” “seamless,” “sustainability” – what do all these terms have in common? They are all popular buzzwords that fly from businessman to businessman at boardroom meetings like mosquitos on a hot day. The problem with buzzwords is that they sound good when spoken, so they are constantly overused in business settings
Continue reading »Fluid-handling company reaps the rewards of Kaizen
Colfax Corporation, a company that specializes in developing fluid-handling solutions for a variety of industries, recently released its fourth quarter earnings report. Although it fell short of established targets, the firm was able to make substantial progress toward improvement plans and growth initiatives. In a conference call with investors, the company's chief executive officer Steven
Continue reading »Developing a leadership strategy
Too often, people view titles such “executive” or “manager” as milestones they hope to achieve at the end of a long career, when in actuality these jobs are a core part of business strategy. Upper management is expected to lead people, and those titles aren't just goals to strive for. Leadership is a strategic value
Continue reading »Investing in a Lean tour
Companies live and die based on the investments they make. Invest in the right people, programs, practices and equipment and the business will likely succeed. On the flip side, investing poorly can lead an organization to failure. This is especially true in today's economy, where budget is a real issue and companies can't afford to
Continue reading »Great leadership starts with a better leadership culture
Great leaders are often the most visible people within a company, and many of a business' accomplishments are accredited to these individuals. However, in a number of those situations, these people aren't entrepreneurial masterminds who are capable of doing things that no one else can. In general, outsiders looking in are much too quick to
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