The Lean Logistics Blog

While sitting around the table enjoying turkey and stuffing with loved ones last week, I was asked to reflect upon things for which I am thankful. First and foremost, I thought about how thankful I am for my family and friends. I am certainly thankful for my health and well being. As a graduate of […]

“Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.” – Unknown One of the obligations of any on-site consultant working for LeanCor is not just to work within the tactical realm of our customer’s supply chain, but to improve upon the structural foundation that produces best practices and standard work in any segment of the organization.  […]

We make decisions in the workplace every day.  As we all know, choices drive end results.  How can one be confident in choices in the workplace where the end result is reflective (good or bad) on the decision maker?   The XY Matrix, as discussed in Lean Six Sigma Logistics: Strategic Development to Operational Success, […]

The recent past has been challenging for many of us in industry. The bold truth is regardless of our age or experience level, most of us have never been down this road before.  Economists now feel we have at last hit bottom, whatever that means, and what logic are they are using to reach this […]

For the purpose of this blog, an ideal route is defined as:   1. One pick and one drop 2. Multiple of 550 miles (legal transit time based on 11 hours of drive time at 50mph) from origin to destination pickup/delivery times that minimize driver idle time.  For example, if a load will require five […]

    In order to create operational and financial stability, we must manage our transportation by lean principles: Focus on Total Logistics Costs defined as total cost associated with logistics, including purchasing, transportation, warehousing, ordering and inventory carrying costs. Operate by the Guiding Principles of Lean Transportation Management:   1. Develop and Execute Transportation Strategy. […]

As typical of a material planner, one’s day is dealt with various challenges and obstacles.  Aware of these challenges, I typically meet weekly with the planners via conference call to reflect and identify actions/steps to improve upon the challenges and obstacles faced through the inbound supply chain. This time however, we conducted our weekly reflection […]

Now that I have your attention, let me explain that declaration before you start calling me crazy in the comments section. In my role as an on-site manager for a large manufacturing customer, I was following up on some supplier short shipping issues that were impacting truck utilization, expedites, and transportation cost.  When I spoke […]

Click to watch the webinar. To become a Lean Supply Chain Professional, we must grow our skills in three areas: Lean Problem Solving, Lean Supply Chain Application, and Lean Leadership. In this free one-hour webinar now available online, you will be introduced to: Lean problem solving through the use of problem solving tools to eliminate […]

in partnership with is offering a unique hands-on GEMBA-based workshop for supply chain and distribution professionals. The lean journey generally begins inside the four walls of the manufacturing facility, however eventually it extends to the supply base and our customers. As we begin focusing on waste elimination, inventory reduction and flow, we quickly realize that […]