The Main Effect Leaders Should Really Be Watching In continuous improvement circles, we spend a time talking about data — main effects, interaction effects, root causes, process behavior charts, and all the rest. But sometimes the most powerful “main effect” in an organization has nothing to do with statistical output. It has to do […]
I’ve found there’s real value in keeping good reference materials close at hand. The books and resources I rely on most are not the ones sitting on a shelf looking impressive. They’re the ones that are clearly well used — dog-eared pages, highlighted sections, and Post-it notes marking the parts I go back
In this week’s Cox‑Box cartoon, a team member makes a quick escape: “Wow, look at the time! I have to go and feed my pet—” “—Project.” And suddenly, the “pet” turns out not to be a furry companion at home, but something far more familiar: the improvement work they keep avoiding. Why We
Every year, as conference season rolls around, I’m reminded why I love the Continuous Improvement community so much. We’re passionate. We’re curious. And when we see a better way to do something, we can’t help ourselves—we lean in, we share, we challenge, we debate. And sometimes… we bump heads. The Productive Pain of Disagreement In
One of the biggest misconceptions in Continuous Improvement (CI) is the idea that improvement simply “happens” because someone has a good idea, a solid data set, or a well‑written project charter. But anyone who’s been around CI long enough knows the truth: Improvement doesn’t fail from bad ideas — it fails from lack of leadership
Ever had one of those days when everything snaps? Literally? That’s what happened to me one day and it sparked the idea for this Cox-Box cartoon—my shovel broke, and all I thought was, ‘My Cpk just dropped to zero.’ I uttered a few other words, but as I thought about it, I thought I
Every so often, a cartoon idea pops into my head that makes me laugh before the ink even hits the page. 6 Sigma Flakes was one of those. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent enough time in the Lean Six Sigma world to see humour everywhere… or maybe it’s because CI professionals secretly love a
Every December, our family kicks off the holiday season the same way: we settle in, grab some snacks, and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. There’s something timeless about watching Clark Griswold wrestle with a mountain of tangled lights, staple his sleeve to the house, and then proudly reveal a display so bright it temporarily
If you’ve ever worked inside an organization long enough, you’ve probably seen it: the never-ending parade of new org charts, new titles, and new “strategic directions.” That’s exactly what inspired this Cox-Box cartoon — our friend Joe from Maintenance, paintbrush in hand, staring at a door that’s been repainted so many times you can practically
Ever stood in the express checkout line and wondered if everyone was really sticking to the item limit? We’ve all been there—counting our items, side-eyeing the person ahead of us with a suspiciously full cart, and wondering if we’re the only ones playing by the rules. This week’s Cox-Box cartoon pokes fun at that all-too-familiar