JANUARY 2019
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HITTING RESTART IN THE NEW YEAR SIGNS OF THE TIMES How are you enjoying your holiday celebrations? Ours have evolved over the years, but I think back to what the holidays meant to me as a kid. Coming from an Italian background, it was all about homemade pasta and pizza, desserts, and playing cards.We watched from afar as our aunts and uncles played gin. Kids weren’t allowed to sit at the card table, so instead we played the Atari and fought over the controls waiting for our turn. As the years passed, seats opened up at the card table, and we took our rightful spots. It signaled both the start and end of a phase. At our house, the image that comes to mind is our kids huddled at the top of the stairs. The kids knew that they weren’t allowed downstairs until I gave them the okay. So I’d grab the camera and take a picture of them at the top of the stairs as they eagerly waited for Mom to get out of bed. This year, Barbara and I took some time for a retreat focused on goal setting and planning.We talked about our one-, three-, and five-year goals. Thinking about the big picture keeps us on track and helps us set our behavior in line with where we want to be. Because of those benefits, we’re planning to make this an annual tradition. As we move into the new year, it’s a good time to re-evaluate the 5S progress at your business. I’ve noticed we tend to let things slide a bit at the end of the year. It’s a normal trend — all the focus goes into production and getting widgets out the
happen. The method is a game changer to a warehouse and/or manufacturing setting. You set a signal to order more of a product before you get to the last one, instead of finding out that you’re out of that product, and manufacturing has to completely grind to a stop.We have a few more kanban tips for you inside the newsletter. In the new year, I encourage you to go back to the principles that got you started with 5S. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
door, and 5S practices get put on the shelf. If you put 5S on hold for the holidays, it’s time to come out of the chute flying and start your year off right. For those of you who haven’t already guessed, Barbara and I love dogs.We’ve welcomed a number of pups into our family over the years, and there’s some training involved for all of us. Lilly is actually the exception to this; she trained us more than we ever trained her. But we have a tried and true method to housetrain them: We put a bell on the door that the dog can reach with their nose, and for the first few weeks, we put them outside after ringing the bell. Eventually, the dog learns that ringing the bell gets our attention and that it’s the signal for needing to go outside, so they start ringing the bell on their own. The bell ringing is an important signal, both for our pets and for us. It’s a bit like the concept of “kanban” (Japanese for “visual signal”), which focuses on signaling when a behavior should
From everyone at the 5S Store, happy holidays!
David Visco
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CHIP AND DAN HEATH’S ‘MADE TO STICK’ UNCOVERS WHAT MAKES IDEAS MATTER
be the cause. Understanding how to present your ideas in an inspiring way could unlock the key to increased productivity and growth like you’ve never achieved before. The next time you present an idea to your team, a group of conference attendees,or any other audience,ask yourself if that idea will stick. If it won’t,you’re just wasting your time. If you need a little guidance on how to make your ideas punch a little harder, “Made to Stick” should be on your holiday book list.
Have you ever wondered why certain stories that have no basis in fact get passed around like wildfire? Whether they’re rumors,urban legends,or conspiracy theories,these tales can often gain more traction than important ideas and facts. In their book “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die,” Chip and Dan Heath explore the qualities that give ideas relevance and pass-around value.
presented in the form of stories.While these principles are relatively straightforward,they are often subverted in an effort to use business jargon and other neutered forms of language. The Heaths deploy John F.Kennedy’s famous speech about putting a man on the moon as an example of a compellingly relayed idea.“Had John F.Kennedy been a CEO,he would have said,‘Our mission is to become the international leader in the space industry through maximum team-centered innovation and strategically targeted aerospace initiatives,’” they explain.Nobody would have been excited about that.
“An accurate but useless idea is still useless,” they write.This point is key to understanding why people get excited about certain ideas and ignore others.The Heaths argue that the presentation of ideas can have just as much of an impact on their “stickiness” as the content of the ideas.After analyzing hundreds of examples,they note,“We began to see the same themes,the same attributes, reflected in a wide range of successful ideas.” “Made to Stick” explains those attributes using myriad examples to illustrate how stickiness works in the real world.Early in the book,the Heaths share six key principles,demonstrating how good ideas are made valuable and exciting by their simplicity, unexpectedness,concreteness,and credibility; are capable of rousing emotions; and are often
If you’ve ever thought that you had a great idea but couldn’t get your employees to buy into it, a lack of stickiness may
PUTTING BEST PRACTICES IN PLACE
Have you ever gone to grab some supplies only to find you’re out?! It’s frustrating,and you’re left feeling like your teamdoesn’t have your back. It can slow down or even halt productivity.
To avoid this frustration, implement visual cues for frequently used supplies and items.
Pro Tip No. 2: Always make sure you have supplies available by setting visual cues for when it’s time to order more. Put the Japanese concept of kanban in place for 5S supplies so you never run out. Strategically place labels and cue cards within supplies to designate when it’s time to order more. The label should have the supplier’s name for that product, the part number, and any other details that are needed for inventory control.
For example, using this system on your red tags, you would stick the cue card near the last of the 3–5 red tags.When a team member reaches for a red tag and it’s down to the last 3–5, they see the cue card, letting them know supplies are running low and signaling that more need to be ordered. They can give it to the person in charge of ordering more supplies and know that their teammate won’t be left in the lurch without red tags. This system is simple yet effective for managing inventory. Setting these cues is a key part of keeping material, information, and processes flowing
smoothly at your facility. If you let things slide a bit at the end of the year, now is the time to get back on track and return to your best practices. Set the example for your team by staying on top of your standards. Don’t wait until supplies have run out! Put cue cards and other 5S best practices into effect in your workplace to improve efficiency and productivity.
To order cue cards and labels, email custom@the5sstore.com.
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A CHRISTMAS WISH LIST LILLY’SWAREHOUSE Oh, hey, you’re back! Sharky and I were just about to play, but I’ll hang out here so — oh NO! He’s back! That man from the brown truck. Okay, it’s fine! I can focus. I promised David and Barbara I would sit for this column. Plus, I have something important to talk to you about. I’m here to help you buy gifts for that special someone in your life — your best friend, your pup. Now, you have your obvious choices. You could go for a shark toy (always a good choice), or a Kong filled with peanut butter. But to go the extra mile, here are some of my suggestions: 1. Steak, wrapped in bacon, with some peanut butter on top. Yum. 2. A coupon for free belly rubs 3. Steak, wrapped in—oh, I already got that one. 4. Tickets to the Puppy Bowl Merry Christmas! P.S. David, isn’t the last one good? (Hint, hint!)
WHERE KANBAN STARTED AND TIPS ON HOW TO USE IT
The time? The 1940s. The place? Japan. Two men from Toyota were attempting to overcome a challenge many of us still face today: how to make their business more productive. Observing the fulfillment process at a grocery store, they noticed that instead of restocking based on their vendor’s supply, the clerks restocked items based on their store’s inventory. Only when an item was just about to run out did they order more. The “just in time” method inspired the two men to implement a process that focused on measuring demand for a product and ordering inventory to match. After the introduction of this method, assembly line workers began using visual cue cards, or kanban, to signal the next step in a production process. The cards allowed for clearer communication on what work needed to get done and created standard processes for cueing the next step. The concept of kanban as a visual management tool was born, and with its implementation, productivity increased, and less waste was generated. At its c ore, Kanban is a visual management tool that helps to increase throughput and quality. By establishing a standardized system, workers can focus on the task at hand rather than future tasks. HOW IT WORKS One kanban method uses a whiteboard with three columns labeled with “to do,” “doing,” a nd “done,” along with color-coded sticky notes. Each sticky note color correlates to a step in the production process and provides a quick signal to team members about their tasks. One scan of the board and anyone on the team knows where they should be focusing their attention and how the workflow is going. Instead of spending valuable time constantly reevaluating workflow, teams can put that time into increasing throughput and quality.
PEANUT BUTTER & BERRY FRENCH TOAST
INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS
• 8 slices brioche, 1/2-inch thick • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter • 2 large eggs • 1/8 cup heavy cream • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • 2 cups cornflakes • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 2 cups mixed berries • Powdered sugar, to sprinkle • Maple syrup, for serving
1. On a large baking sheet lined with wax paper, place 4 slices of brioche and spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each.Cover with remaining slices, creating sandwiches. 2. In a pie plate, beat eggs with cream and vanilla. In another, coarsely crush the cornflakes. 3. Lightly soak sandwiches in the egg mixture, then dredge in cornflakes, pressing to adhere. Return to baking sheet. 4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted and up to temperature, add sandwiches, cooking on one side until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. 5. Return sandwiches to baking sheet, add remaining butter, and repeat on other side. 6. Top sandwiches with berries, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve withmaple syrup.
TODO DOING DONE
Inspired by Delish
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 | Resetting Behavior in the New Year 2 | A Guide to Making Ideas Stick 5S Pro Tips 3 | A Lean Peek Into the History of Manufacturing Lilly’s Warehouse Peanut Butter and Berry French Toast 4 | The Best Skiing Destinations in the World
location’s beauty is only part of your stimulating experience, because every curve of fresh powder makes your pupils dilate. Once you’re done flying down the hill where Bode Miller took the Bronze Medal, head over to the winter wonderland of the old Olympic Village for a cozy night in a picturesque town. ST. ANTON, AUSTRIA If you want a great location for next year’s Christmas card photo, there’s no better place than the Tyrolean Alps. Nestled in a valley between perfectly molded mountains, the Austrian landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for your winter excursions. The densely wooded areas and the bright reflection of the snow frame the vibrant town that’s just waiting to be explored. When you’re ready for world-class runs, hop in one of the 11 gondolas and zip down the hills that hosted the 2001 Alpine World Ski Championships.
3 OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST WINTER SPORT DESTINATIONS
WHO’S READY FOR SOME POWDER? The sound of the first carve through fresh powder is the anthem of all winter sports enthusiasts. Here are three of the world’s best mountains to experience that powder you’ve been craving all year. BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO
WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA A destination that looks like a Nordic paradise met Olympic-level runs,Whistler is filled with true magic, winter activities, and a town that captivates the senses.When you see the mountains of British Columbia, you’ll understand why they hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The
“The Colorado Rocky Mountain high,” sang John Denver about the freedom he felt on one of the world’s most renowned mountain ranges. Where there are great mountains, there’s even better snow, and at the pinnacle are the jagged peaks of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. If you’ve ever seen the groomed trails of Breckenridge, you’ll understand why. The ski resort boasts five peaks, 187 trails, 34 lifts, four terrain parks, and a renowned cross-country trail. After a day on the slopes, head into the town of Breckenridge for dining and activities that ditch the glitz and glamour of Vail or Aspen and take you straight to the heart of fun.
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