The Common Thread

I was about five years old when the work was started that created the Polaris Missile Submarine Program. If you think about the complexities of that time frame, there were six distinct challenges facing the Navy and their civilian counterparts. Despite the advent of nuclear power, the systems that needed to be created were all […]

What is the most important part?

Systems thinking is an important part of Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline. In an organization, it mostly means having the ability to see the whole while balancing the importance of the parts. For me, this has always been a touchstone of lean thinking. Every part has its own role and in any system, their interactions make […]

Divisions

Division is the title for people on a submarine who are assigned to operate together. If you think about it, that seems like a rather strange name for a “team” until you recognize that the divisions are all part of a larger team. A group of people who are assigned to function together will only […]

When nothing but 100% is acceptable: Trust

When nothing but 100% is acceptable: Trust There are times in life when we have come to expect less than perfect. It might be a grade in school in a very difficult course or a child’s performance in an organized sport. While there are some people who would flinch at accepting less than 100%, I […]

Deck Plate Problem Solving

Submarine wisdom: If you plan on travelling at 200 feet, you should make sure your boat is capable of no less than 400 feet. Smallwood Hall is an enlisted barracks in Pearl Harbor named in memory of Machinist’s Mate Third Class James E. Smallwood. Smallwood was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal posthumously. He was supervising […]

The Right Team for the Right Mission

Submarine Wisdom: Just because you don’t see a problem doesn’t mean it isn’t there… being prepared for the unexpected is more than a slogan on a poster in the mess decks Submariners spend their whole careers preparing for the normal and abnormal. In a world where seconds can mean the difference of life and […]

Why is Teamwork such an important part of a successful lean journey?

Its a great Navy Day! The weather is amazing here inport and the crew is motivated to do great things today. Submarine thought for today: The best submarine in the world does not become the best tied up to a pier… it becomes the best when it is on its journey. In the fifteen years […]

Prepare to Dive, Prepare to Dive

“Chief of the Watch, verify boat is ready to submerge” “Aye aye sir … Straight Board” “Very well Chief, Diving officer, Submerge the ship” “Aye Aye sir, Chief of the Watch, sound two blasts of the diving alarm and open all main vents” “On the 1MC… Dive Dive” The boat slides beneath the waves and […]