My original post on LinkedIn August 10, 2014

I was reviewing old documents in my computer and came across a piece by a noted “lean expert” that was talking about the Toyota kata questioning method. I had added a comment to the bottom of the document. I wrote, “Once again, consultants are missing the point. It’s is not about the five questions; copying them will not help.”

To me, the five kata questions are an outcome of pre-lean thinking. They may have evolved out of TWI’s Job Metho...

Buried in the 1940’s lean training is a brain psychology that few understand and even fewer have mastered. The trainers of the time knew what worked but few knew why. Today’s lean trainers may not be using the same methods for the sake of efficiency. Efficiency may not equal effectiveness.

Recently a group that I have worked with had a consultant come in to teach Job Instruction Training. This program works if it is taught that same way as is was in the ...