---
title: Park Avenue Solutions Blog | lean tool series
description: lean tool series | The Park Avenue Solutions Blog hosts information, ideas, tools, and resources to help you on your Continuous Improvement journey.
---

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## The Park Avenue Solutions Blog

###### 1 min read

## [A Mindset for Improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/a-mindset-for-improvement)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Jul 21, 2022 4:52:00 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.parkavenuesolutions.comhubfs3%20-%20KataPark_Avenue_Solutions-Improvement-Kata-steps.png) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/a-mindset-for-improvement)

Does your organization have a mindset for continuous improvement?

The daily routines of your organization shape its culture. Scientific Thinking can be a driver for a continuous improvement culture. One of the best ways to learn how to think scientifically again is by following the set pattern of the Improvement Kata.

The term “kata” means a way of doing so when we say “Improvement Kata” it’s a way of improving.

Topics: [continuous improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/continuous-improvement) [process improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-improvement) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [mindset](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/mindset) [growth mindset](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/growth-mindset) [change management](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/change-management) [problem solving](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/problem-solving) [agile](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/agile) [improvement kata](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/improvement-kata) [toyota kata](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/toyota-kata) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/a-mindset-for-improvement)

###### 1 min read

## [Why Improve our Processes?](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/why-improve-our-processes)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Jul 14, 2022 8:15:00 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Image%20of%20a%20basketball%20lying%20on%20a%20wooden%20floor.jpeg) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/why-improve-our-processes)

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [continuous improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/continuous-improvement) [standardization](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/standardization) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [change management](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/change-management) [problem solving](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/problem-solving) [agile](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/agile) [process mapping](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-mapping) [value stream mapping](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/value-stream-mapping) [quality](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/quality) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/why-improve-our-processes)

###### 1 min read

## [Folding Towels](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/folding-towels)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Jun 14, 2022 7:52:00 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Park_Avenue_Solutions_Towels.jpg) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/folding-towels)

Did you know there’s a right and wrong way to fold a towel?

Topics: [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/folding-towels)

###### 1 min read

## [Why Process Map?](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/why-process-map)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on May 5, 2022 12:15:29 PM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Park_Avenue_Solutions-Why-Process_Map-blog.jpg) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/why-process-map)

A picture is worth a thousand words. Many of us are very visual people.

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [continuous improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/continuous-improvement) [process improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-improvement) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [lean office](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-office) [how to](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/how-to) [resources](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/resources) [process mapping](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-mapping) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/why-process-map)

###### 2 min read

## [Clean Up for Savings (with 5S)](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/clean-up-for-savings)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Apr 13, 2022 8:34:54 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Park_Avenue_Solutions-Clean-up-savings-blog.jpg) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/clean-up-for-savings)

With today’s economy, households are finding ways to cut out excess expenses such as the daily latte or going out to dinner. Families are identifying where their money is being wasted by looking at unnecessary habits and then making changes that impact their bottom line (budgets).

Topics: [continuous improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/continuous-improvement) [process improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-improvement) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [5S](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/5s) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/clean-up-for-savings)

###### 2 min read

## [Deliberate Practice in Action](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/deliberate-practice-in-action)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Jan 26, 2022 7:02:57 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/PARK_AVENUE_SOLUTIONS_DELIBERATE_PRACTICE_KATA_GOLF_CHIPPING.jpeg) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/deliberate-practice-in-action)

The strongest part of my golf game has always been my short game. Depth perception is essential for determining the distance around the green. In early 2022, I discovered that my vision loss has affected my depth perception and, therefore, my short game.

I am truly grateful that I am able to be back swinging a golf club. Rather than be frustrated, I thought I would try some of my own advice that I generously have given out over the years on chipping. Later, I realized that I was using Deliberate Practice to relearn the basics of chipping.

I was practicing chipping in my backyard like I've done for years. I was struggling to land near the targets, and as I kept hitting balls, it wasn't getting better. Rather than be frustrated, I remembered my GOLF ADVICE: chipping is like tossing a ball and imagining the club is just an extension of your hand.

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [kata](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/kata) [training](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/training) [mindset](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/mindset) [growth mindset](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/growth-mindset) [golf](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/golf) [strivefore5](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/strivefore5) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/deliberate-practice-in-action)

###### 2 min read

## [Jumping to Conclusions](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/jumping-to-conclusions)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Jan 12, 2022 9:09:00 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Kata_Jumping_to_Conclusions_2022JAN12-1.png) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/jumping-to-conclusions)

Have you ever had a doctor make a quick diagnosis without asking you for more information on your current situation? “You’ve always had sinus issues, so your headaches are just sinus pressure.”

It’s an easy thing to do – in fact, we all do it many, many times every day … at home, in our relationships, driving, and certainly at work.

It’s called “cognitive bias,” and it’s a way for our brains to make decisions more quickly and efficiently. Without completely conscious thought, our brains use pre-existing information to run algorithms based on our previous experiences and fill in the blanks.

It’s a powerful mechanism that helps our brains process the massive amounts of information and decisions we have to make every waking moment, but when it comes to making decisions about new situations, our unconscious biases and preconceived notions can create a problem.

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [continuous improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/continuous-improvement) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [kata](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/kata) [mindset](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/mindset) [PDCA](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/pdca) [resources](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/resources) [leadership](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/leadership) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/jumping-to-conclusions)

###### 2 min read

## [Production Boards & Peanut Brittle](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/production-boards-peanut-brittle)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on May 27, 2020 10:08:44 AM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Park_Avenue_Solutions-Fixed_ProductionBoardsPeanutBrittle-blog.png) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/production-boards-peanut-brittle)

During quarantine, we’ve all had to get back to basics with many things. At our house, that has included eating at home more, which, of course, means cooking more. We are both great cooks, but we rarely seem to have time to make our meals at home. So, while we have a repertoire of meals that we create from memory, this time is different, so, let's try some new things. Or, as it turned out, some *old* things.

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [standard work](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/standard-work) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [lean manufacturing](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/production-boards-peanut-brittle)

###### 3 min read

## [Lean & Green](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/lean-green)

 By [Angela Barbosa](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/angela-barbosa) on Apr 22, 2020 1:42:58 PM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Park_Avenue_Solutions-Lean-supports-green-EarthDay2020-blog.jpg) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/lean-green)

Earth Day feels odd this year. With much of the U.S. and Europe still in #stayathome mode, the internet is flooded with images of crystal clear canals in Venice, smog-free skies in L.A., and the shrinking "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. For all of the devastation wrought on humanity by COVID-19, our collective efforts to #flattenthecurve have Mother Earth breathing at least a temporary sigh of relief. 

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [process improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-improvement) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [sustainable](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/sustainable) [environmental improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/environmental-improvement) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/lean-green)

###### 2 min read

## [Thanksgiving Standardized](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/thanksgiving-standardized)

 By [Leigh Ann Schildmeier](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/author/leigh-ann-schildmeier) on Nov 26, 2019 1:12:04 PM

[![](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/hubfs/Park_Avenue_Solutions-Happy-Standardized-Thanksgiving-1.png) ](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/thanksgiving-standardized)

Standardizing your processes can create repeatable and reproducible results. We know that standardizing can make you more efficient by reducing or eliminating non-value added activities. Why wouldn't we want to do that so that we can spend more time with her family? Isn't that what the holidays are all about?

Topics: [lean](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean) [standard work](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/standard-work) [continuous improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/continuous-improvement) [process improvement](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/process-improvement) [standardization](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/standardization) [lean tool series](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/lean-tool-series) [holidays](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/holidays) [thanksgiving](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/thanksgiving) [cooking](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/topic/cooking) 

[Continue Reading](https://www.parkavenuesolutions.com/blog/thanksgiving-standardized)

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