Basic Lean Prinicples

1.

Lean helps create positive change in a slow and proven manner by increasing productivty by:

A.

Giving staff with more work, to help create more output.
B.

Increasing inputs, to directly increase outputs.
C.

Adding additional resources to help decrease the burden of the workload.
D.

Reducing the amount of useless activity our resources are currently burdened with.

Correct Answer
D. Reducing the amount of useless activity our resources are currently burdened with.

Explanation
Lean methods enable us to see our work very differently and create additional "value" for customers in ways other than simply adding more resources.

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2.

Please pick the following answer(s) that are accurate, or true, regarding the following statement: "The right process will produce the right results"

A.

All work is seen as a set of interconnected processes.
B.

Processes are analyzed to optimize each separate piece, as oposed to optimzing the whole.
C.

Pricesses are analyzed in their entirety and changes are made to optimize the whole as opposed to analyzing and optimizing pieces.
D.

Improving components of porcesses without considering the affect on the whole, usually results in local efficiencies at the expense of overal system efficiency.
E.

Lean methods standardize and tighten processes to make cause and affect relationships within them readibly visible.

Correct Answer(s)
A. All work is seen as a set of interconnected processes.
C. Pricesses are analyzed in their entirety and changes are made to optimize the whole as opposed to analyzing and optimizing pieces.
D. Improving components of porcesses without considering the affect on the whole, usually results in local efficiencies at the expense of overal system efficiency.
E. Lean methods standardize and tighten processes to make cause and affect relationships within them readibly visible.

Explanation
Loose or unspecified processes produce varying and unpredictible results. Lean process is "perfectly designed" to produce the results it gets.

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3.

Please pick the following answer(s) that are accurate, or true, regarding the following statement: "Develop your people and your partners"

A.

People are not the most important resource in a Lean enterprise.
B.

Lean systems thrive on creativity and imagination.
C.

Lean methos teach people how to analyze complicated processes, how to be disciplines, and how to develop solutions as a team.
D.

Lean methods will challenge partners for improvement purposes.
E.

Lean organizations' success is tied to the success of their partners.

Correct Answer(s)
B. Lean systems thrive on creativity and imagination.
C. Lean methos teach people how to analyze complicated processes, how to be disciplines, and how to develop solutions as a team.
D. Lean methods will challenge partners for improvement purposes.
E. Lean organizations' success is tied to the success of their partners.

4.

Please pick the following answer(s) that are accurate, or true, regarding the following statement: "Solving problems drives organizational learning"

A.

Lean organzations focus on standardization and problem solving.
B.

Lean problem solving is daily experimentation to find creative ways to improve their job by improving processes.
C.

Problem solving improves morale and job satisfaction.
D.

Organzational learning is a routine that follows standards, observes results and takes action to make improvements.
E.

Standardization is a way to help "see" what works and what does not work.

Correct Answer(s)
A. Lean organzations focus on standardization and problem solving.
B. Lean problem solving is daily experimentation to find creative ways to improve their job by improving processes.
C. Problem solving improves morale and job satisfaction.
D. Organzational learning is a routine that follows standards, observes results and takes action to make improvements.
E. Standardization is a way to help "see" what works and what does not work.

5.

Please pick the following answer(s) that are accurate, or true, regarding the following statement: "Generate value for customers, society and the economy"

A.

Lean focuses on short term financial goals.
B.

A "bigger than self" perspecitive helps lean culture have a shared vision.
C.

Lean is about constantly looking for ways to provide greater value to customer and society.
D.

Lean decisions are based on a short term philosophy, considering benefit to the customer and community.

Correct Answer(s)
B. A "bigger than self" perspecitive helps lean culture have a shared vision.
C. Lean is about constantly looking for ways to provide greater value to customer and society.

Explanation
Lean decisions are based on a LONG term philosophy.

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6.

Please pick the following answer(s) that are accurate, or true, regarding the following statement: "Value is the product or service we ultimately provide to our customer."

A.

In lean, the staff defines the value.
B.

In lean, the customer defines the value.
C.

Basing customers needs on assumptions alone can create extra work.
D.

Value can be determined by asking customers directly.
E.

Establishing and consistently meeting internal customer needs is critical in increaing smooth, efficient processes for our customers.

Correct Answer(s)
B. In lean, the customer defines the value.
C. Basing customers needs on assumptions alone can create extra work.
D. Value can be determined by asking customers directly.
E. Establishing and consistently meeting internal customer needs is critical in increaing smooth, efficient processes for our customers.

7.

For simplified analysis, Lean divides all activities into two categories:1 -2 -

Correct Answer(s)
Value
Non-value
waste
Non value

8.

Which statements defines "VALUE"?

A.

The customer has to be willing to pay for the activity
B.

The activity must "directly transform" the item or person flowing through the process into what the customer is willing to pay for.
C.

The activity must meet all epected requirments on the first attempt
D.

Value is defined by meeting all three statements A, B and C.

Correct Answer
D. Value is defined by meeting all three statements A, B and C.

9.

Please pick the following answer(s) that are accurate, or true, regarding the following statement: "Waste is another word for non value-add activity." [Non-value activity occurs when the following criteria is not met - 1. customer must be willing to pay for it, 2. must be done right the first time, 3. the specific process directly changes "the cutomer's item" as being value added]

A.

Lean methods force us to view oiur work from the customer's perspective, see the value and question everything else.
B.

Seeing such tremendous amounts of waste in everything we do, enables us to undersand that significant improvement is posible.
C.

The goal is to maximize value while minimizing waste. This is done by uncovering the waste, to make waste visible for improvement.
D.

Human efforts can be considered waste when used on wateful activity.
E.

People are not waste.

Correct Answer(s)
A. Lean methods force us to view oiur work from the customer's perspective, see the value and question everything else.
B. Seeing such tremendous amounts of waste in everything we do, enables us to undersand that significant improvement is posible.
C. The goal is to maximize value while minimizing waste. This is done by uncovering the waste, to make waste visible for improvement.
D. Human efforts can be considered waste when used on wateful activity.
E. People are not waste.

10.

What are the first 4 wastes? The word "down", in DOWNTIME is a clue.

Correct Answer(s)
Defects
Over producton
Waiting
Neglect of human talent