Sergio D'Amico, CSSBB's Linkedin Analytics

Real change starts on the floor. Boardrooms won’t show you real problems.   Big change starts with small moves.   Most skip the basics, but Kaizen builds greatness one step at a time.   Here are 10 lessons from Gemba Kaizen by Masaaki Imai:   1/ Improve 1% daily. → Focus on tiny fixes that add up big.   2/ Walk the Gemba. → See the real problems with your own eyes.   3/ Hunt waste daily. → Find and fix anything that kills time or cost.   4/ Set clear rules. → Great work starts with clear, simple standards.   5/ Do the 5S drill. → Sort, straighten, shine, systemize, and sustain your space.   6/ Make it visible. → Use signs, charts, and marks to track work.   7/ Give power to teams. → Let workers find problems and fix them fast.   8/ Think lean, not rich. → Smart process beats big spending every time.   9/ Blend skills. → Mix minds from different teams for fresh ideas.   10/ Lead the charge. → Be the first to act, fix, and show the way.   📌 P.S. Want to make real change today? Start with one small move.   * * * ♻️ Share to help others change for the better. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement.

Efficiency isn't luck, it's engineered. Most teams skip the lessons Toyota mastered. Master Flow, Cut Waste, Grow Fast. Most miss this: Less is more, not more is best. Here are 20 takeaways from Toyota Production System by Yasuhiro Monden: 1/ Make what’s needed, not what’s easy. 2/ Stop flaws fast, don’t patch them later. 3/ Drop waste like bad habits, daily. 4/ Spread work smooth to cut stress and shocks. 5/ Write steps clear so no one guesses. 6/ Save cash by fixing flows, not by cuts. 7/ Use Kanban to keep stock smart and lean. 8/ Cut setup time to boost flow, not wait. 9/ Keep work neat, tools easy to reach. 10/ Care for gear like it’s your best friend. 11/ Ask workers for ideas—they spot gold. 12/ Treat suppliers like team, not tools. 13/ Make teams talk—no walls allowed. 14/ Train folks for change, not just tasks. 15/ Stop errors before they even start. 16/ Improve small, improve daily, improve always. 17/ Treat people as brains, not parts. 18/ Fix small to avoid big breaks. 19/ Think green, cut waste, save the Earth. 20/ Stay global, act local, but stay true. These aren’t steps. They’re a mindset shift. If you build with this, your work, your team, your life grows. ♻️ Share to help others ➕ Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. Work smart, not just hard. Which one will you start today?

Leaders talk less. Great ones coach more. That’s how high-performance cultures are built. Most Lean leaders lead with too much noise. But real impact comes from small, clear moves. Here’s a playbook you’ll want to keep close: 1/ Act like a guide, not a boss → Go to the floor. → Talk less. Coach more. → Fix starts with showing the flaws. → Praise wins, no matter how small. 2/ Think like a gardener, not a hero → Big change takes time. → Every issue grows people, if you let it. → Build people up. That’s the job. 3/ Use tools. But use them right. → Set the tone with Standard Work. → Make the work seen with Visual Boards. → A3 keeps all heads on the same goal. → Coaching Kata? That’s how you scale brains. 4/ Ditch these bad habits fast → Solving too fast? You’re the bottleneck. → Blame kills trust. Own the flow. → No Gemba = no clue. → Rush the fix… and watch it fail. 5/ Want proof it’s working? → Look at how your team talks. → They solve. They own. They stick to flow. → They improve slow and strong. This isn’t a sprint. It’s a mindset. Pick one habit. Start today. *** 🔖 Save this post for later. ♻️ Share it with a Lean friend. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more bold steps in continuous growth. 📌 P.S. Is there a critical practice missing in this playbook? Share in the comments. 📌 P.P.S. Want your team to thrive in change? Start by letting them grow at work. Tag a leader who should see this.

Improvement isn’t random. Talent drives it daily. Training alone won’t grow your people. But smart talent plans can build a strong culture. Here’s how to build a growth culture through talent development: 1/ Build hands-on skills: → Learning by doing beats theory every time. → Practical tools and up-to-date skills keep your team ahead. 2/ Train problem-solvers: → Teach structured methods that uncover fresh solutions. → Analytical thinking fuels smart, creative answers. 3/ Coach for growth: → One-on-one mentoring transfers real-world knowledge. → Guidance turns talent into leadership-ready potential. 4/ Push team collaboration: → Cross-functional teams solve bigger problems faster. → Trust and open communication build unstoppable synergy. 5/ Commit to lifelong learning: → Create ongoing programs that prepare for tomorrow. → Keep up with trends to always stay relevant. 6/ Share knowledge openly: → Host sessions where skills and wisdom spread. → A strong knowledge base makes success scalable. 7/ Develop leaders early: → Train decision-making and strategic thinking. → Strong leaders inspire teams and deliver results. 8/ Measure progress: → Clear metrics and regular feedback drive improvement. → What gets measured gets mastered. 9/ Empower creativity: → Reward bold ideas and break old molds. → Innovation thrives when barriers fall. 10/ Train adaptability: → Change isn’t coming; it’s here. → Teach flexible thinking to master any challenge. *** ♻️ Share to help others develop their talent. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. Want your team to thrive in change? Start by letting them grow at work.

Stop fixing symptoms. Start realigning systems. Misalignment kills growth. But most leaders fix only the surface. Your team, your tech, your people, none of them click. Because you skip one truth: All parts must fit. McKinsey’s 7S Model shows the fix. It aligns your strategy, style, and staff. It covers both sides: Hard and Soft. Most forget the soft: values, skills, and style. Want smooth change? Start with this: 1/ Shared values drive all actions. 2/ Structure shapes your team flow. 3/ Systems fuel daily tasks. 4/ Strategy sets your long game. 5/ Style defines leadership habits. 6/ Staff shows your human edge. 7/ Skills power your future growth. Skip one? Risk chaos. Align all? Unlock growth. Use it when change knocks: ↳ After mergers. ↳ New leaders onboard. ↳ Fresh goals take shape. Most firms fail here: ↳ They overlook soft links. ↳ They ignore team skills. ↳ They ditch regular reviews. Want to avoid this trap? Start simple. Check your 7S fit. Fix gaps. Realign. Your team deserves a clear path. Your business needs strong roots. *** ♻️ Share to help others align their organization. ➕ Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights like this. 📌 P.S. Ready to spot gaps? Use 7S today.

Improvement dies without leadership. But commitment brings it to life Want continuous improvement? Start with consistent leadership. Here’s how you do it: 1: Set the vision → Show where you're going… and why it matters. 2: Lead by doing → Act the way you want your team to act. 3: Let your team lead → Trust their calls. Back their bold ideas. 4: Build their skills → Train them. Give tools. Let them grow. 5: Don’t drift → Stay on track. Keep the focus sharp. 6: Be cool with change → Pivot fast. Stay open. Try new things. 7: Break the walls → Teams should talk. No silos. No gaps. 8: Own your goals → Set clear tasks. Track them. Check results. 9: Show you care → Listen first. Act with heart, not ego. 10: Cheer their wins → Small or big… a win is a win. ♻️ Share to help others build a culture of continuous improvement 🔔 Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on organizational excellence 📌 P.S. Want to lead better? Start with one step from this list. Then do it daily.

The fastest mind wins. OODA makes it possible. Outthink. Outplay. Outlast. Most fail because they decide too late. Want to win? Master the OODA loop. Here’s the map: O: Observe → Watch. → Learn. → Spot shifts fast. O: Orient → Think sharp. → Link past to present. → Shift view when things change. D: Decide → Pick fast. → Pick bold. → Speed beats safe. A: Act → Move quick. → Test moves. → Tweak till it fits. Why it works: → You think clear. → You act fast. → You outdo the rest. Most mess up here: → They skip steps. → They rush to act. → They forget to loop back. Want to win daily? → Train your eyes. → Trim your process. → Teach your team. Outsmart the pack. OODA is the playbook. 📌 P.S. Learn it. Use it. Win more. *** ♻️Share to help others make sharper decisions. ➕Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights like this.

Improvement isn’t a project. It’s a practice built into daily, gritty operations. You don’t need big shifts to see big gains. Small tweaks in your day can fix big flaws. *** Map how your processes flow → You’ll find fast ways to do things better. Host quick daily huddles → Great ideas start from tiny talks. Use idea boards on the wall → See fresh ideas come from every role. Train across all jobs → Teams grow when they share their skills. Audit how work gets done → Trim what slows you. Scale what works. Use tech to move fast → Tools speed up tasks and show the gaps. Say thanks when folks step up → Praise grows trust. Trust grows speed. Ask for quick feedback → Change gets easier when people feel heard. Lead change with care → Explain the “why.” Support the “how.” Track real work with real data → What gets tracked gets fixed faster. ♻️ Share to help others build a continuous improvement culture. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights like this. 📌 P.S. Big growth hides in daily moves. Start small. Stay steady. Results will show.

Continuous improvement loves clarity. But strategy sets the pace. Culture isn’t designed — it’s lived daily. But without clear steps, it fades fast. Want to build a team that never stops getting better? Start here: Vision Setting → Paint a clear, bright future. → Point the way. → Get everyone on the same map. Customer Focus → Learn what buyers need. → Follow the flow of value. → Check their smiles, not just sales. Goal Deployment → Break big dreams into small wins. → Mark clear targets. → Track the path, not just the pace. Resource Planning → Make time for what matters. → Give jobs to names. → Spend smart, win fast. Change Management → Sketch the path for shifts. → Help teams handle doubts. → Cheer for each small leap. Leadership Alignment → Join heads before moving hands. → Clarify who does what. → Let leaders lead, not guess. Performance Monitoring → Watch the right numbers. → Check them often. → Change direction fast when needed. Communication Strategy → Tell stories of progress. → Speak the same, always. → Ask, listen, adjust. Cross-Functional Collaboration → Tear down walls. → Trade ideas like gold. → Make wins a shared goal. Agility in Strategy → Move with the market. → Keep your eyes open. → Update, adapt, and stay sharp. — Culture isn't posters on walls. It's habits, shared truths, and clear next steps. Start with one shift. Watch the ripple. ♻️ Share to help others build their continuous improvement culture. ➕ Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights like this.

Big change is overrated. Kaizen proves small wins matter. Big wins fade. Small steps stick. Still chasing "massive change"? Try Kaizen instead. Here are 18 truths from The Spirit of Kaizen, by Robert Maurer: 1/ Fear shrinks with small steps → Tiny moves calm your brain and body. 2/ Your brain loves ease → Stress less, act more when tasks feel small. 3/ Radical change fails fast → Small wins last longer and feel safe. 4/ Ask small things → “What’s one thing I can try today?” 5/ Picture tiny wins → See yourself taking one easy step. 6/ Act small → Start with 1 push-up. Or 1 sentence. 7/ Fix the small stuff → Little issues grow. Stop them early. 8/ Celebrate every step → Even a smile can be a reward. 9/ Use tiny time slots → Waiting at red lights? Take 3 deep breaths. 10/ Tiny habits win big → One new word a day builds fluency. 11/ Every idea counts → Great firms ask everyone to share ideas. 12/ Track what works → Write down one win. Each day. 13/ Slow > Perfect → Small steps beat short bursts. 14/ Done is better → Progress grows. Perfection stalls. 15/ Speak up, stay safe → No fear. Just ideas. That’s Kaizen culture. 16/ It works. For all. → From moms to CEOs, tiny change fits all. 17/ Be present → Spot micro-moments. Then act. 18/ Shift your view → Tiny steps aren’t weak. They’re wise. *** 🔖 Save this post for later. ♻️ Share to help others build their kaizen spirit. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. What’s your next small step? Name it below. Then go do it.

Wasting time you can’t see? Meet the 8 D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E. wastes! Identify hidden waste and boost productivity instantly. Your business bleeds in 8 silent ways. But most teams never spot them in time. Here’s how you can spot, measure, and kill waste: Decode the 8 hidden killers (D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E.) 🎯 Defects: Bad work that needs rework. 📦 Overproduction: Making more than what’s needed. ⌛ Waiting: Downtime with no action or value. 💡 Non-used talent: Skills left in the dark. 🚛 Transport: Unneeded moves between places. 📊 Inventory: Stuff sitting too long. 🔄 Motion: Tasks that waste your team’s moves. ⚙️ Extra processing: Doing more than the job needs. How do you find these time traps? → Process Maps → Time Tracking → Gemba Walks → Spaghetti Diagrams Here’s why it matters: → Higher cost → Poor quality → Slow work → Angry teams → Lost customers How do you fix it? → 5S Cleanups → Fast changeovers → Clear tasks → Visual signs → Skill swaps → Pull systems How do you know it worked? → Faster delivery → Lower cost per unit → Better quality → Team joy and trust *** 🔖 Save this post for later. ♻️ Share to help others identify and reduce waste. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. Which waste do you see most in your team?

Stop chasing “busy.” Start chasing “impact.” This matrix shows the way. Stop wasting time on “what’s next?” Most tasks die not from effort, but from no plan. Here’s a tool smart teams swear by: The Impact-Effort Matrix. It’s dead simple: Draw two lines, mark them ‘Impact’ and ‘Effort.’ Then plot each task on this easy grid. Tasks fall into four sharp spots: 💡 Quick Wins → High impact, Low effort. 💎 Major Projects → High impact, High effort. 🧹 Fill-Ins → Low impact, Low effort. 🚫 Time Wasters → Low impact, High effort. It helps you: → Kill decision fatigue. → Align the whole team fast. → Save hours and dollars. But don’t mess it up by: → Overrating task impact. → Ignoring effort size. → Skipping the review loop. This tool isn’t new. It’s rooted in the old Eisenhower Matrix. But built for the real grind of business today. Want pro tips? Here: → Use sticky notes. → Refresh it weekly. → Map it out with your team. Simple. Visual. Powerful. You’ll wonder why you ever guessed before. ♻️ Share to help others with being productive. 🔔 Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. Ready to drop the guesswork? Make your own grid today.

You don’t need more goals. You need SMART ones. Most goals fail. SMART ones don’t. Because they leave no space for guesswork. Here’s how to crush goals using SMART: 1/ What’s SMART? Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound. → A clear path with no fluff. 2/ Why use it? Vague goals lead to vague results. → SMART gives you focus, and focus gives you wins. 3/ Here’s the SMART breakdown: → Be clear: Say what, why, and how → Track it: Use real numbers → Stay real: Aim high, but stay grounded → Match it: Link it with your top goals → Set a time: Know when to start and stop → Keep checking: Adjust fast if things go off track 4/ Writing goals that work → Use action verbs → Drop vague words → Align with what matters now 5/ Things to dodge: → “Grow the brand” = Too wide → “Double users in 1 week” = Unreal → Forgetting to check progress = Death of growth 6/ When to use SMART → Plan your next quarter → Set team KPIs → Build your personal roadmap 7/ The good that comes with it → Clear targets = More wins → Shared goals = Aligned teams → Progress tracked = Progress made 8/ SMART in action: → “Grow sales by 15%” → “Train 50 staff by Q4” → “Launch in 3 months” 9/ Now vs. Then: → SMART = Sharp and on point → Non-SMART = Lost in the clouds ♻️ Share to help others set SMART goals. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. Try this today: Take one of your goals… Make it SMART. Then watch it work.

Projects fail from planning, not from bad work. Yet most skip the Critical Path entirely. Your project will fail without this. Most delays don’t come from bad luck. They come from missing the Critical Path. The Critical Path Method (CPM) is your fix. → It maps every task, link, and date. → It shows the longest path to finish. → It helps you spot delays before they hit. It was born in the 1950s for Navy work. Today, it still runs the world’s biggest plans. Here’s the core you need to know: → Critical Path: The longest must-finish path. → Float: The wiggle time for tasks. → Dependencies: Tasks that rely on each other. → Milestones: Markers that prove progress. Here’s how to build it: → List every single task. → Add real time estimates. → Link dependent tasks. → Find the longest sequence. That’s your Critical Path. Why use it? → Save time and avoid delays. → Spot risks before they hit. → Keep the team aligned. → Track real-time progress. Mistakes to avoid: → Ignoring dependencies. → Overlooking float time. → Guessing task durations. → Forgetting to update timelines. Best practices: → Review the plan often. → Update timelines when needed. → Share changes with the team. → Track milestones without fail. When should you use CPM? → Big projects with tight deadlines. → Complex tasks that link together. → Teams that need clear focus. The path is always clear. The question is: will you walk it? *** ♻️ Share to help others ➕ Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights like this. 📌 P.S. Projects don’t fail from bad work. They fail from bad planning.

What if your machines could talk? Andon makes them glow. Color is the first language of your factory. But most teams still speak in confusion. Let’s make one thing clear: You don’t fix what you can’t see. Andon is the fix. It speaks through lights, not words. Here’s how it helps: *** 🟢 Green = Go → All is well. Keep moving. 🟡 Yellow = Help → Small issue. Needs fast action. 🔴 Red = Stop → Big issue. Production halts. *** No need to guess. No time is lost. One glance tells the full story. It’s not just a tool. It’s power on display. The power to spot, act, and solve. *** What makes it smart? → A cord or button → Lights and boards → Alerts and sounds *** Why does it matter? → Saves you from costly downtime → Keeps your team on the same page → Lifts quality before it dips *** It’s not new tech. It’s lean tech. Built by Toyota. Still leading the way. And if you're not using it... You’re running blind. *** ♻️ Share to help others with their operations ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement 📌 P.S. Want your floor to move faster and smarter? Start by adding color where it counts. Let your machines talk. Let your people act. Let your factory win.

No clarity = No results. 5W2H gives you both, instantly. Solving big problems starts with simple words. But we rush in and miss the real fix. If you lead teams, fix workflows, or run ops… You need this tool in your kit: The 5W2H Framework. *** What is 5W2H? → A tool to fix work, boost flow, cut loss. It asks 7 clear things: → What, Why, Where, When, Who, How, How Much? *** Where did it start? → In Japan. → Built for lean work by Toyota. They used it to make work fast, smart, clean. *** How to use it? Step-by-step: 1/ What is the task or issue? 2/ Why does it need work? 3/ Where does it happen? 4/ When does it occur? 5/ Who is in charge or affected? 6/ How is it done now? 7/ How much does it cost or earn? Answer each in plain words. Now fix what’s wrong. *** Why use it? Big gains: → See the full issue, not just a part → Spot waste, gaps, and delays fast → Make smarter, faster choices → Boost speed and flow → Keep your fix lean, not large *** Tips for Success: → Keep answers short → Use with real data → Review with your team → Ask again if unsure → Don’t rush the “Why” *** Where to apply it? → Cut cost in ops → Plan new tasks → Check weak points → Audit poor flow → Set smart goals → Train new hires *** The next time things go wrong… Don’t start with tools. Start with 5W2H. *** ♻️ Share to help others with problem-solving. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement.

You can’t fix what you don’t see. And you won't see it from a desk. No Gemba? No clue. If you lead from a screen, you're already lost. *** You can’t fix the floor from five floors up. You can’t feel the pain if you don’t stand in it. You don’t lead with tools. You lead with sight. And you only get that by walking the floor. By asking why. By watching close. By seeing what your team sees… in real time. The best bosses don’t guess. They go. They watch. They ask. They listen. And they learn what no dashboard ever shows. So next time someone tells you Gemba's a waste? Ask them how well their chair knows your team. *** ♻️ Share to help others lead with their feet. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement. 📌 P.S. Your team sees you when you show up. Go see. 📌 P.P.S. This post was inspired by a comment from LeanSuite.

Confused workflows? Start with SIPOC. It brings clarity from chaos. Processes fail when you skip this one map. But with one sheet, you see it all clear. Here’s how you fix your messy workflows: Start with S – Suppliers → Who gives you the stuff to start? → Could be a team, a tool, or a vendor. Then comes I – Inputs → What do you need to get the job done? → Tools, info, gear, list them all. The P? That’s the Process → These are your steps. → Just say what comes first, then what’s next. Move to O – Outputs → What comes out at the end? → A file, a product, or a happy client. End with C – Customers → Who gets the result? → Know what they want. Give it to them. Now why does this even matter? SIPOC helps you: → Spot blocks in your work. → Talk better with your team. → Keep the client in focus. → Make your process tight and lean. Use this to build your own SIPOC: → Pick one work task → List S-I-P-O-C → Get help from your team → Keep it light, not tight → Test it, tweak it Coffee Shop SIPOC (Easy Sample): S – Milk guys, cup folks, bakery pals I – Beans, milk, water, skilled baristas P – Get goods → Brew → Mix → Serve → Clean O – Latte, snacks, grins C – Walk-ins, app users, big events P.S. SIPOC is simple. But it can save your whole team. Try it once this week. You’ll never go back. ♻️Share to help others fix their processes. 🔔Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights on continuous improvement.

The 8 wastes of Lean. Master them or waste your day. If you missed any part of this series, here’s a recap. Save this post for later. Waste steals your time and cash. But most teams learn this too late. Here’s why you must cut waste now: ↳ Boosts flow ↳ Lowers costs ↳ Lifts morale ↳ Speeds delivery ↳ Sharpens focus ↳ Wins trust Over the past weeks, I’ve shared 8 posts on how to reduce each of the 8 wastes of Lean. Now here’s a recap: --- Stop Defects: Build It Right the First Time. Link: https://lnkd.in/eFmDZ2Uc --- Overproduction: Make Only What's Needed. Link: https://lnkd.in/eN_FQNda --- Waiting: Keep Work Flowing Smoothly. Link: https://lnkd.in/e9nNBtJt --- Non-Utilized Talent: Unlock Potential. Use All Skills. Link: https://lnkd.in/eP894cym --- Transportation: Move Less, Deliver Faster Link: https://lnkd.in/egZ_X9VC --- Inventory: Stock Less, Sell More. Link: https://lnkd.in/eh5eqyaJ --- Motion: Work Smarter, Not Harder. Link: https://lnkd.in/eCvAg9-G --- Extra Processing: Cut Complexity - Do What Matters Most. Link: https://lnkd.in/eUw2x66p --- Spot these 8. Fix them one by one. Lean isn’t luck. It’s learned. ♻️Share to help others cut the waste. ➕Follow Sergio D'Amico for more insights like this. 📌 P.S. Which of these do you see in your work?

Forget long reports. A3 solves problems in one powerful page.   Solving problems isn't hard. But most teams do it the wrong way. Here’s how to fix it using Toyota’s A3 method:   A3 is not a tool. It’s a mindset in one page.   → It finds the real problem → It maps the current pain → It sets a clear goal → It digs into root causes → It builds real solutions → It creates an action plan → It tracks what worked   But here’s where people mess up: → They skip steps → They don’t ask “why” → They pick fast fixes, not right ones → They forget the team   If you want to solve smart, do this:   1/ State your problem → Pick a clear issue → Show how it hurts   2/ Assess the situation → Use real data → Make it visual   3/ Set a goal → Make it clear → Make it count   4/ Ask why (x5) → Go deep, not fast → Fishbone works best   5/ List the fixes → Pick the few that matter → Don’t fix symptoms   6/ Plan the how → Set who + when → Track what moves   7/ Follow-up → Compare wins → Share the lessons   A3 is not just a doc. It’s how top teams think.   Use it once. You’ll never solve the old way again.   *** ♻️ Share to help others become better problem solvers. ➕ Follow Sergio D’Amico for more insights on continuous improvement.