Ten Useful On Line Resources for Lean Thinkers
 If you are a Lean Thinker then you are probably always wondering
how you could do things better, cheaper and faster.
In this article I want to tell you about ten online resources
that I have found particularly useful in teaching Lean to
others.
The best bit is they are all available in the Public Domain.
Resource #1 Google Sketch up
If you are trying to promote Lean in your Organisation google sketch up can be a nice tool
to help you create half descent looking graphics. It is very easy to use and you can produce
realistic 3D images fairly quickly.(The logo above was created in Google Sketch up)
Often I find it is difficult to get clip art that represents Lean ideas .For instance I would be
too scared to type in "shitsuke" (the 5th S) into google images. So my solution is to create
my own. Google sketchup can really help you do this efficiently.
Here is the link for it:-
http://sketchup.google.com
Resource #2 Gimp
” A picture is worth a thousand words” - this was first stated by Fred R. Barnard in the
advertising trade journal “Printers Ink”. It is now easier than ever to capture images of
your “lean activities” for use in: presentations, training material, lean promotion and the
creation of Standard Operating Procedures. Images can be a great way of showing “before”
and “after”. Photos can serve as a “line in the sand” and be used to audit processes 2 or 3
months after the improvement activity has taken place. i.e. By looking at the photograph
we can easily see if we are sustaining the gains.
Gimp is a photograph manipulation program that you can use for customising your captured
images. It does many of the functions that the expensive Photo manipulation software
programs do.
Here is the link for it:-
http://www.gimp.org
Resource #3 Picasso
Following on with the picture theme, once you've captured your fantastic Lean Images what
do you with them. In true 5S style you need a place to put them and then retrieve them
from easily.
Picasa is such a tool. It is a simple way to store and index all of your images.
Here is the link for it:-
http://picasa.google.com
Resource #4 Jing
Jing is a tool that allows you to capture a movie of your computer screen (up to 5 minutes)
This can be very helpful in Lean Promotion and Training. For instance you can capture a
Power-point presentation and turn into a "use anytime" video. It copies everything you do on
the screen ,so for instance if a person has come up with the best sequence of opening and
closing windows in a particular task all you need to do is capture it and then use it to train
others.
Here is the link for it:-
http://www.jingproject.com/
Resource #5 Open Office
Open Office is a suite of Programs very similar to Microsoft Office. I have used Microsoft
Office for a a number of years. The main reason I started using Open Office is because
the word processor program allows you to edit Microsoft Word Documents and then save
them as a PDF files. This has saved me hours of time in creating reports and training
materials on various aspects of Lean.
Here is the link for it:-
http://www.openoffice.org/
Resource #6 Q10
If like me you are involved in communicating with others around Lean Tools and Technique's
then you will often have to use the written word. Pen and paper works fine a lot of the time.
Other times you may want to use your computer. Many of the word processors out there have
lots of fancy functions, 80% of which you will never use .They often are a distraction and
get in the way. With all these bells and whistles it is easy to get distracted from the words.
Q10 is a text editor that basically only edits text on a black screen. Putting up the words is
really all you can do with it. It can help focus your mind on the topic that you are working on.
It is a bit sad but the other thing I like about it is that it makes a sound like an
old fashioned typewriter when you hit "carriage return".
Here is the link for it:-
http://www.baara.com/q10/
Resource #7 Freemind
I've mentioned Mind Mapping in previous articles. Mind Mapping can be a great way
to capture your ideas when you are working on a particular Lean Project. For instance
you may want to create a Mind Map of all of the Lean Topics that you hope to
cover in a training session with staff. Freemind is mind mapping software that allows you
to do this. Particularly good if you are artistically challenged, like many of us are.
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Resource #8 Resource Google Alerts
As a Lean Thinker you probably use the web to search for improvement ideas or techniques
that can help you in your day to day activities. Google alerts is a great little tool for getting
relevant information to you. It basically e-mails you the latest results dependant on what
you asked for. So for instance, I have set up a weekly google alert for the topic "kaizen" .
Once a week I get an e-mail from Google Alerts with links to all the freshest content around
that search term. Genius.
Here is the link for it:-
http://www.google.com/alerts
Resource Tool #9 Linked In
A great way to keep in touch with other like minded Lean Thinkers is by joining linked in.
Broadly speaking Linkedin is a way of networking though trusted contacts. I've only recently
started using it but so far it has been very useful. It's a way of keeping up with friends and
colleagues who are interested in Lean. As well as individuals you will find Groups on Linkedin
Here is the link for it:-
www.linkedin.com
If you know me "Link in" to Graham Ross's network and keep in touch www.linkedin.com/in/leankaizen
Resource #10 Ezine Articles
 If you are looking for inspiration for your next Lean initiative, reading
articles can often spark you into action. Ezinearticles is a portal for such
content. For instance, when I typed in "Lean kaizen" into the ezinearticles
search box it came up with over 1000 articles on Lean Topics. The thing
that I really like about it are that the articles are vetted by an editor before
they are allowed to be published. So there is some level of Quality Control.
I've even submitted a couple of articles myself.
Here is the link for it:-
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Graham_Ross
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