'Twas the Day Before Christmas: A Lean TPS? Holiday Tale

Twas the day before Christmas, and all through our plant,

Machines were idle, assembly production was but scant.

Deliveries were not met, yet the owners still only sighed,

“We need more efficiency! Our processes must be tried!”

So spot Kaizen was called, and the QCC teams gathered near,

To try and solve all the problems that plagued us this year.

The Jishuken is scheduled, a hands-on event,

To uncover the true root causes and time-study where all the cycle times went.

And me in the TPS office upstairs, with my A3 Hoshin plan,

Had just begun aligning cycle times with demand.

When out on the floor there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.

To the Gemba, the real workplace I dashed, to the noise,

To find chaos in our one-piece flow and tools out of poise.

When what to my "Go See" eyes should appear,

But a red-coated Sensei with a gaze so austere.

He moved with precision, his pace never slackened,

“Jidoka and Just-In-Time!” he firmly had beckoned.

He straightened the flow and balanced the line,

“Takt must guide all!” he said. “Waste must resign!”

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,

Removing Muda’s 8 wastes wherever they lurked:

Overproduction, waiting, and motion off-track,

Excess inventory, defects, and transportation slack,

Overprocessing and talent unused—

All these 8 wastes he simply refused.

Then Muri (overburden) he began to unpack,

Easing the strain where the system might crack.

And for Mura (unevenness), he smoothed every flow,

Eliminating stops that made progress go slow.

With 5S as his guide, he started to sort,

Moving all clutter to Quality Control support.

He shined every surface and set things in place,

Labeled the tools with a calm, steady grace.

“Standardize this!” he called. “Make it visual to see,

So that even a visitor knows where to be!”

He paused at a station, his expression intense,

“Remember, my friends, use your common sense.

With the power of Jidoka, errors will halt,

And problems are solved right there on the spot!”

He trained us in teamwork, then turned to the floor,

“Your Just-In-Time flow must impress even more!

Pull what you need, when it’s needed—no later,

A rhythm like this makes your system much greater.”

His eyes, they twinkled; his dimples, they grinned,

“Lean TPS? mastery is where success begins!

Kaizen your Thinking, improve every day,

Respect for People must guide every way.”

With his Jishuken team, he mapped the next phase,

Engaging us deeply in an hours-long craze.

We stood in amazement as the 5S transformation took hold,

The Lean TPS? system is more precious than gold.

Then suddenly, swift as Kanban cards flow,

He packed up his tools and prepared to go.

But I heard him exclaim as he climbed out of sight:

“Lean never ends—improve every day, and every night!”

Bring Lean TPS? to Life in 2025 with the Lean TPS? Basic Training Program

Building on the themes from the poem, the Lean TPS? Basic Training Program is designed to bring Lean principles to life in a hands-on, immersive way. Rooted in Kaizen Thinking, Jishuken, and Respect for People, this program empowers organizations to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Participants will engage with key foundational tools such as Just-In-Time, Jidoka, 5S, and practical problem-solving strategies. These tools are not just theory—they provide actionable frameworks that lead to measurable results, ensuring long-term improvements and value creation.

The Lean TPS? Basic Training Program is more than just a course; it’s a transformative journey. By cultivating a Kaizen mindset and fostering leadership that embraces continuous improvement, this program helps organizations embed Lean principles into their culture, setting the stage for sustained success.

Start your Lean TPS? Journey in 2025 – Let’s Jishuken Together!

Unlock the full potential of Lean TPS? and take the next step toward operational excellence. Together, we’ll drive meaningful, lasting change that empowers your team and organization.