Do You Believe Everything People Tell You?
Ask if a standard exists and you'll get a confident yes. Richard Pounder on why the answer often changes somewhere between the meeting room and the workplace.
Lean & continuous improvement insight
Short, practical articles on lean, leadership and improvement drawn from real shop floors, offices and warehouses.
How Many People Can One Leader Really Lead?
At Toyota, one leader looked after about six people. I've since seen one leader responsible for 36. So what do we actually expect our leaders to do?
Getting Off the Roundabout
Why senior managers end up trapped on a diary roundabout — and how fixing the system around them creates the space to actually lead.
Practical Experience v Theoretical Knowledge
Why real-world experience is only part of the answer — and how the right knowledge, challenge and guidance can turn 20 years on the shop floor into genuine operational excellence.
What’s Wrong With Training Existing Employees in New Skills?
Why your most experienced people may be the best candidates for development — and how funded apprenticeships can build on the knowledge they already have.
Firefighters Love a Fire
Why some leaders fix problems… and others stop them happening.
What a Digital Camera Taught Me About AI
A lesson from Toyota on why technology should support people — not replace them.
Why Lean Manufacturing Matters Going Into 2026
As economic pressures mount and margins tighten, Lean isn't just a nice-to-have — it's the difference between surviving and thriving.
When Demand Falls, Strong Organisations Build Capability
Recovery rewards those who prepared. When order books slow down, the smartest businesses don't cut training — they double down on it.
Everyone Is Busy… But Are They Doing the Right Things?
Why lack of clarity, not lack of effort, is the biggest source of waste in organisations — and how clear expectations unlock real performance.