Easier, Better, Faster: A New Motto for Central Coast Lean

Created by Eric O Olsen with assistance from Claude.AI

For years, Central Coast Lean has operated under the banner of "Committed to Operational Excellence." It's served us well. But as our lean journey has deepened, we've been searching for language that better captures what we're actually trying to do—and that invites more people into the conversation.

So we're making a change. Our new motto is simply: Easier, Better, Faster

Why the Change?

When someone at a grocery store or coffee shop reads my name badge and asks, "What is lean?"—a question I get often—I've tried many approaches over the years. The answer needs to be accessible, practical, and true to the philosophy. Recently, the Future of People at Work initiative proposed a definition that resonated with me: Everyone learning how to create and flow value—easier, better, faster, cheaper—for everyone's benefit.

That definition draws from Shigeo Shingo's original ordering of these attributes: easier, better, faster, cheaper—in that sequence. The order matters. When we focus first on making work easier for the people doing it, we create a platform for improving quality for the customer. That quality improvement, combined with eliminating unnecessary steps, naturally makes things faster. And when those three elements align, cost reduction becomes an outcome, not a target we chase at the expense of everything else.

Why Not "Cheaper"?

This is where Philip Crosby's insight that "quality is free" becomes relevant. In a truly lean system, cost reduction isn't something we add to our list of goals—it's what happens when the other elements are in place. When we reduce non-value-added time, quality improves, lead times shorten, and costs naturally decrease. Pursuing "cheaper" as a separate objective can actually undermine the very improvements that generate sustainable cost reduction.

There's also a practical concern. When people hear "faster" in a manufacturing or service context, some worry it means a speed-up—pushing workers to move at an unsustainable pace. That's the opposite of what we mean. Making things easier often means eliminating unnecessary steps, reducing handling, and simplifying processes. The result is genuinely faster cycle times, but not because people are working harder. They're working smarter, with less friction and fewer obstacles.

The Cash Machine Connection

Years ago, I encountered a concept from Ed Heard at Motorola called "Cycle Time—A Cash Machine for Companies." The model illustrates how reducing total cycle time creates a cascade of improvements: less non-value-added activity, better quality, improved on-time delivery, reduced inventory, lower working capital requirements, and ultimately more cash and satisfied customers.

What struck me was how the relationships flow both ways. Shorter cycle times improve quality because cause and effect are closer together—problems surface quickly and can be addressed before they multiply. But better quality also reduces cycle time, because you build less rework, less scrap, less of the wrong thing. Improved on-time delivery means customers stop placing "phantom orders" to hedge against uncertainty, which reduces the backlog in your pipeline. Less inventory means less waiting time in the system and faster first-in-first-out flow.

It's an elegant reinforcing loop, and it all starts with making work easier.

An Invitation, Not a Mandate

We're not claiming this is the definitive or perfect articulation. Language evolves, and our understanding deepens over time. But "Easier, Better, Faster" represents a practical starting point for lean conversations that feel less like jargon and more like common sense.

When we say easier, we're talking about respect for people—making their work less frustrating and more effective. When we say better, we're focused on the customer receiving quality they can count on. When we say faster, we mean value flowing without unnecessary delays.

This motto is our invitation to a broader community. You don't need a certificate or special vocabulary to join the conversation. If you're interested in making work better for the people doing it and for the customers receiving it, you're already thinking lean.

We're discovering together. Come join us.

Central Coast Lean offers workshops, community events, and resources for organizations exploring lean principles. Our monthly Virtual Lean Coffee sessions meet the second Wednesday at 10am PT—all are welcome.