The James P. Womack Scholarship and Philanthropy Fund (JPW Fund) and the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) teamed up with the primary goal to have two student interns analyze and improve core processes at a nonprofit organization, thus inspiring the organization to implement lean practices by showing them various methods to improve their operations. […]
The James P. Womack Scholarship & Philanthropy Fund (JPW Foundation) reflects on the outcomes of their ‘lean internship,’ which offers a hands-on practical experience to students while helping nonprofits help more people. In a recently created guide, the JPW Fund explains how the first two interns started in the Fall of 2019, and how they […]
Written by Brion
Humble Design Detroit (HDD) furnishes homes for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. They furnished ten more homes in 2021 than they did in 2020, an increase that the community service organization previously couldn’t imagine. They don’t plan to stop there: HDD is aiming to provide an additional 12 homes in 2022. The improvement […]
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Tim Gebauer writes articles on LinkedIn under the Thrift Retailer, and discusses Lean methods applied at a thrift store. In this article, he discusses clutter at the checkout area and how it impacts efficiency and customer satisfaction. He suggests that 5S can be used to improve the checkout area, which actually improves employee turnover in […]
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The Nebraska Department of Transportation (DOT) Process Improvement recently shared a short video at their annual Project Managers conference on the success we have had with 5S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), especially in our District 2, South 108th St. Yard in Omaha. Overall, they’ve had pretty good success with the 5S program […]
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When the Covid-19 pandemic began, the Excise and Licenses (EXL) department of the City and County of Denver was hard at work identifying what they needed to innovate to adapt to the current circumstances. They had a Rapid Improvement Event focused on streamlining and reorganizing their EXL Shared Drive. The Action Plan The Rapid Improvement […]
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by Brion Hurley Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief nonprofit organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable, to help end hunger by 2030. They are working to help impact the UN SDG: Goal #2, Zero Hunger. Based on their implementation of lean, Six Sigma, systems thinking and engineering principles, they […]
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by Brion Hurley Philip Washburn started to learn about Lean Six Sigma when he had recently become the Program Director of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio. Habitat for Humanity helps build affordable new homes around the world. Philip quickly realized that Lean Six Sigma tools had potential to help the organization. He became a certified Black Belt […]
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The Maintenance team found opportunities to clean up their storage room at the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home using 5S workplace organization with assistance from Keith Flaute, Process Improvement Coordinator. They also share a neat story about old items they found, such as a bell, plaque and photograph. Watch the video below, or click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvmAfzER4BI
Written by Brion
Pat O’Connor has done volunteer work for many years. In this article, he shares lessons learned from his current volunteer work as a Chairperson of The Avenue of the Flags Program (a community fundraiser run by volunteers) and as the Head Usher at his local church. He implements Lean Six Sigma skills such as 5S, […]
Written by Brion