Author: Mark Graban
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Automatic Candle Snuffers – Mechanical and Electronic
I just learned about these devices that are clever, simple, mechanical, and inexpensive — the automatic candle snuffer. As the candle burns to a certain level, the candle no longer holds up the piece that then flips down to snuff the candle. I bet it’s close to a 100% reliability rate? Some videos: Here’s a…
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Mark Graban’s Mistake-Proofing Course at TKMG Academy
This is a short clip from the free preview of Mark Graban’s Mistake-Proofing course that’s available through TKMG Academy View the entire preview video (2.5 minutes) Transcript: Thinking proactively about what could go wrong and what’s the worst that could happen is the first step toward intentional efforts to prevent or mitigate mistakes Some mistakes…
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What is Poka-Yoke? Via Lean Ohio
Applications of Poka-Yoke in state government, for forms and more. Discover the power of mistake-proofing with LeanOhio’s comprehensive video guide. This video explores practical strategies to eliminate errors and improve efficiency in your organization. Learn how to implement poka-yoke techniques, understand the principles of lean management, and see real-world examples of successful mistake-proofing in action.…
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Toyota: Avoiding Simple Mistakes Through Fail-Safe Devices called Poka-yoke
From Toyota’s virtual plant tour page… “Avoiding Simple Mistakes Through Fail-Safe Devices called Poka-yoke This Poka-yoke is linked to the electric screwdriver used by the worker to check for any loose screws that need tightening. If there is a problem, a red lamp will alert the worker, helping prevent defective products.” Explore Toyota’s innovative approach to mistake-proofing in this…
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Always Getting the Right Number of Screws
I’ve seen this poka-yoke example at the Toyota Technological Museum in Japan too. This device makes it easier to always get the right number of screws with the push of one’s hand:
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Excerpts on Mistake-Proofing from “Lean Hospitals”
The following is material excerpted, adapted, and annotated from Mark Graban’s book Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement. The terms “mistake-proofing” and “error-proofing” can be used interchangeably, as John Grout says… mistake and error are basically synonyms. Creating Quality at the Source through Error-Proofing Ensuring quality at the source (the Japanese word…
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Preventing a Shift Out of Park with Foot on Accelerator
Modern vehicles require the driver to put their foot on the brake pedal before shifting out of “Park.” This effectively prevents a driver from shifting into Drive or Reverse while their foot is on the gas pedal / accelerator. That’s far more effective than a warning sticker on the sun visor.
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Keurig Coffee Machine Won’t Brew without a Cup in Place
Quite often, when I’m in a hotel room, the coffee maker is a single-serving Keurig branded machine, like the one pictured above. To avoid the mess caused by a distracted traveler forgetting to put a cup or mug under the dispenser, the base where the cup goes has a sensor that can tell if even…
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Protecting Against Hot Water Scalding
Lots of scald protectors are available. They come in a variety of configurations. They close off the water flow if the water temperature becomes too hot. Plumbing devices and scald protectors are crucial in ensuring safety in residential and commercial buildings by mitigating the risk of burns from excessively hot water. These devices are designed…
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Mistake Proofing Against Scheduling Two WordPress Posts on One Day
Publishing two posts on the same day isn’t the worst thing ever, but my aim at LeanBlog.org is to keep things to at most one post per day. Doing so helps “level load” the reading for my regular readers. And it allows me to level-load my social media posts about the blog posts. I recently…