Three Tools for Small Businesses

I had an opportunity to speak to a few Everett (WA) small businesses this morning by presenting at the [Three Morning Seminar Series] [1].  We had limited attendance, so it was a great way to have more intimate conversations with those that were there.

We talked about three Lean Six Sigma tools that are useful for all small businesses:

1. Mini Kaizen - an easy to use tool that with very little training, everyone in the business can learn and use.  It focuses on personal accountability for continuous improvement.
2. 5S - Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain.  A common sense approach to keeping your work space organized and efficient.
3. TIMWOOD - The enemies of productivity.  Useful when looking for improvement opportunities.