Kaizen Song: Cycle Times They Are A-Changin’

By Jon Miller | Post Date: June 10, 2006 9:02 PM | Comments: 5

Doing some 5S with computer files this weekend I came across a folder of "kaizen songs" we had made for fun a few years ago. The melodies are well-known folk, rock or country tunes. This one is called Cycle Times They Are A-Changin' and it's based on the Bob Dylan song of similar name. Let me know if you like this and I'll share some of the others.

Cycle Times They Are A-Changin’
(to the melody of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’”)

Come gather round managers wherever you roam
And admit that the stockpile around you has grown
And accept it that soon cash will be all but gone
If payroll to you is worth making
Then you’d better start flowing or you’ll be sitting at home
Cycle times, they are a-changin'

Come accountants and IEs who analyze with your pens
And start your stop watches, takt time’s come again
And don’t stop it too soon, for the work’s just begun
And there’s no telling who’ll be there working
For the assembler now will be later be in paint
Cycle times, they are a-changin’

Come salesmen and rep people please heed the call
Don’t stack parts in the doorway, don’t block up the halls
For he that gets the parts will be he that has pulled
There’s a battle in the warehouse and it’s raging
It’ll soon hit your commission and worsen your golf
Cycle times, they are a-changin’

Come schedulers who expedite all over the plant
Don’t say it takes longer with high customer demand
The manufacturing process is beyond your command
Your inventory is rapidly aging
Please get off of the shop floor if you can’t lend a hand
Cycle times they are a-changin’

The line, it is loaded, the pace, it is takt
The slow assembler will later be fast
And the pull system now will start with the last
The orders we’re rapidly filling
The first piece out of test will surely pass
Cycle times, they are a-changin’

excellent has anyone actually volunteered and sang it? If I get someone to do it, I'll share it with you.

Poster: samer hamadeh | Post Date: June 11, 2006 3:23 AM

Other than me? Not that I know of. If anyone records it I'll post the audio file.

Poster: Jon Miller | Post Date: June 11, 2006 6:08 PM

Hey Jon, You did'nt happen to do a remake

of that J-Giles hit(LEAN STINKS)did you?

Poster: Frank Lesley | Post Date: September 29, 2006 10:30 PM

Hmm. Don't know that one.

Poster: Jon Miller | Post Date: September 29, 2006 11:11 PM

Like the songs, Jon. A co-worker just sent me a link the other day. I like adding some levity to the work place, too.
I wrote the following simple parody and two co-workers (one female and another guy with a harmonica) sang it for our office not too long ago.

I Can See Clearly Now (the Lean version):

I can see clearly now, the waste is gone,
Non-value added steps were in my way
Gone is that Tim Wood guy that had me blind
It’s gonna be a Lean (Lean), Lean (Lean)
Future State.

I think I can make it flow, constraints are gone
All the non-standard work has disappeared
Did a 5S and I’ll start pulling now
It’s gonna be a Lean (Lean), Lean (Lean)
Cellular day.

Look at that map, all of those green dots
Well, maybe some red, but mostly just green dots

I’m on a journey now, I’m going Lean,
Visual management, it makes my day
Cellular work is all I’m striving for
It’s gonna be a Lean (Lean), Lean (Lean)
Ideal day.

Poster: Jeff Focht | Post Date: March 11, 2009 8:12 AM

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