Knowledge Base
We offer a variety of curated content to go deeper into the principles we trust, all in one place.
Things We Share
Downloadable Resources
These are tools we have created to remove waste within our own company.
Kaizen Form
This is the tool that we use to develop problem solvers within kaas.
Download the form here ➔
Download kaizen examples here ➔
7 Wastes Flashcards
The 7 wastes are the weeds in the garden that choke out joy. These flashcards are designed to help teams find the 7 wastes within their own area of influence.
Download here ➔
Destination Guide
This is the visual tool that we developed to be a centerpiece in conversations around our team member’s growth path and clearly communicate our organization’s structure.
Download here ➔
Connect Grow Go
This is our home-grown, principle-based people development program that we are in the process of developing.
Download here ➔
Gemba Walk Cards
This is a daily habit among our management team where we walk around the shop at 9:05a to show face, observe our operation, and share improvements via kaizen presentations. To support this habit, we built audit cards.
Learn more here ➔
Things we love
External Content
These are external learning experiences that we have enjoyed over the years.
Videos
Here are some videos that we have collected from a variety of different topics such as leadership, improvement, and innovation.
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Books
Here are some books we have read on a variety of different topics such as leadership, improvement, and innovation.
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Podcasts
Here are some podcasts that we have listened to on a variety of different topics such as leadership, improvement, and innovation.
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Introduction to Continuous Improvement
Video Content
This is a great place to start for those newer to Continuous Improvement or Kaizen.
7 Wastes
The 7 wastes are the weeds that choke out the good parts of work. Removing the 7 wastes will give us improvements in lead time, cost, quality, and most of all, joy.
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Kaizen
Kaizen means change for the good. When applied correctly, Kaizen reduces waste while humanizing the workplace. Kaizen is for everyone in an organization—from the CEO to the front lines.
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Truth Bit Pull
What is truth, bit, pull? It’s the Kaas Tailored way of simplifying what we have learned from Kaizen, various lean tools, Lean Improvement, and the Toyota Way.
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Standard Work
Standard work is the agreed-upon way that a task, process, or system should operate and is the foundation for improvement.
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One Piece Flow
One-piece flow, also called continuous flow, refers to the way products move from one step in the process to the next—moving them efficiently by planning workflow based on the product and its needs instead of the organization or equipment.
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Video Content
Zoom Series
These recordings are some of the learning series we hosted where we went deeper on our tools & systems.
DMS Series
In the fall of 2020, we hosted a series on our Daily Management System.
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Problem Solving Series
In the fall of 2021, we hosted a series on Problem Solving and Improvement systems.
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Habits Series
This fall and winter, we began hosting a series on our daily habits that influence desired outcomes.
Learn more ➔
Podcast Interviews
Audio Content
Interviews with our President, Jeff Kaas, all in one spot.
We kick off Season 2 with a local Seattle business and family man that has spent his career operationalizing purpose. With his help, we seek to understand frameworks for implementing purpose into the fabric of an organization where it matters most-- the people.
In this episode, Jeff Kaas, President of Kaas Tailored and a 20-year Lean practitioner, discusses how he became interested in Lean after joining his family’s business. He talked about how he implemented Lean in his first ten years vs when he realized the value of people.
The power of principle-based thinking
Today’s guest is Jeff Kaas. I’ve had several guests of the podcast encourage me that I needed to speak to our guest today. When I reached out to Jeff about being on the podcast, he emailed me back and said, “Let’s chat first, I want to get to know you.” We ended up having one of the coolest conversations that I’ve had in my lean journey.
It is not too often that we hear of a for-profit business putting their employee growth and community contribution as their mission statement. Luckily, not only do these companies exist, but they are shining a light towards a pathway for hope and healing amidst a pandemic.
In this episode, Jeff Kaas, President of Kaas Tailored and a 20-year Lean practitioner, discusses how he became interested in Lean after joining his family’s business. He talked about how he implemented Lean in his first ten years vs when he realized the value of people.
A lot of companies say their employees are their greatest resource, but how many actually make good on that statement?
Have a question or ready to get started, let’s talk.
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