Setting the Tone at Toshiba Toner Products Division

I recently received an email from Duane Letcher the Management Innovation Representative at Toshiba Toner Products Division following the completion of a pilot Measurable Management program. With Duane's permission I have published the email below. It's completely self explanatory.

"Robin,

As the (MI) Management Innovative Representative at TPD, I have noticed a definite change in the attitude toward continuous improvement projects by some of the employees who attended your Measurable Management classes. Before the class some of the project leaders would shy away from any continuous improvement efforts. Now, they are always telling me about new project ideas and are involving their co-workers in the projects and having them identifying new projects. Measurable Management has sparked a new enthusiasm in the project leaders which I hope will spread through the entire plant here at TPD.

Thank you for training this group of project leaders."

For the record this pilot program consisted of a small cross functional group of 10 people and as pleased as Toshiba were with the cultural shift they were also pleased with the $700,000 return on investment that resulted from the 30 improvement ideas that were implemented.