Mustache, digitalization, AI & Lean...

My Lean Life (Or Not...) Episode 10 - Season 2

I'm heading back to the US next week, so I'm taking this opportunity to write this week's newsletter in English (As Patrick Raghubeer used to say: Practice makes perfect).

As you may know, I'm a big fan of new technologies (well, most of them...), and it all traces back to my childhood. My dad was what you'd call a super geek before being a geek was even a thing; he had the knowledge, the style — think sleeveless sweaters over shirts, suspenders over belts (he really hates belts), and of course, the quintessential mustache.

I grew up watching my dad assemble and disassemble hundreds of computers to boost their performance or recover some elusive data. The "bip bip krar" of our first 14k modem still plays like a symphony in my mind, and the awe of booting up the first "Prince of Persia" has never really left me. Computers have been a staple of my education (a nod to Adi) and life from a very young age.

I've always considered myself open to new technologies... for the most part. Remember the hype around nanotechnologies? Everything was about those minuscule wonders and their potential to solve the world's grandest challenges. And now? Crickets. We barely mention those tiny robots anymore.

In the lean world, the equivalent of nanotechnologies might be Shopfloor digitalization. The so-called "Industry 4.0," heavily promoted by some German conglomerates , hasn't quite dazzled me as promised. Often, it feels like a waste — too much technology with an environmental toll for scant information and marginal benefits. It's typically the domain of experts, accessible to those with the right passwords and clearances.

During several site visits, I've seen huge screens turned off, used only for morning briefings or, because corporate pushed them, without adding real value to daily operations. Meanwhile, a simple whiteboard and marker could do the job. If you know a visit worth making Julien CHARLES 🏭 🎮 7-shapes , Christophe Ordano , Frederic LUTBERT , drop me a line.

So, what about AI? From my perspective, it's a resounding YES; this is a trend with staying power.

Why? Because it embodies a "lean" approach — accessible to anyone with a computer and an internet connection. Unlike nanotechnology's "six sigma approach," AI democratizes expert-level analysis and problem-solving.

As a ChatGPT user, I'm struck by the tool's capacity, simplicity, and efficiency. Taiichi Ohno, ever the innovator, always encouraged looking beyond the conventional for new methodologies. Thus, if Ohno ranks among your lean gurus, turning a blind eye to AI would be a missed opportunity.

Traditionally, pinpointing the root cause of inefficiencies could be a drawn-out process. AI condenses this into mere hours, offering actionable insights to expedite the Lean cycle of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA).

This isn't confined to the manufacturing realm. In the Lean Office, where data flow supersedes physical goods, Generative AI can transform project management, document processing (hello Yahn Fournillon ), and communication strategies. Imagine AI tools predicting project bottlenecks or automating routine updates, liberating human ingenuity for higher-order tasks. This is lean at its finest.

Moreover, Generative AI can revolutionize problem-solving sessions by offering a breadth of solutions drawn from expansive datasets, akin to having an extra team member whose expertise spans the globe (check PICC Solution from Constant Ondo💡 ) .

Yet, adopting Generative AI necessitates a cultural shift. We must view these technologies not as replacements but as valuable additions to our Lean toolkit. Remember the initial wave of mediocre apps on the iPhone? It's all part of the learning curve.

From my scout camp days and downhill skateboarding adventures to the corporate boardrooms of today, change has been the only constant. Spinoza's words, "The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue," resonate deeply as we navigate the integration of AI within Lean (wink wink Lionel Loiseau ). This virtue will shepherd us through the ensuing complexities and ethical quandaries.

I urge you to delve into how Generative AI can amplify your Lean endeavors. Investigate the potential, familiarize yourself with the new tools at your disposal, and most importantly, share your experiences. How do you envision AI reshaping your Lean practices?

Let's collectively venture into this promising nexus of Lean Management and AI. 🚀

See you next week for more Lean adventures .

#lean #ai “myleanlifeornot #mavieleanoupresque #moustache #iloveudad