Technology Doesn't Have to be Scary

For two years, I facilitated monthly Kaizen events at CITY Furniture. These weren’t just about fixing specific problems. They were about strengthening their culture of continuous improvement. By the time we completed six events, people were lining up to be on the next teams.

One memorable event focused on organizing a chaotic repair parts storage area. We removed 75% of the clutter and built ownership that became a model for future teams.

What I didn’t tell you was this: the team also automated the entire inventory tracking system. And the person who made it happen was a 17-year-old hourly employee named Rob.

Rob was the son of one of the supervisors on the team. During our Gemba walk, it was clear the cluttered space wasn’t the only problem. Our area owner was drowning in paperwork and unreliable data.

While most team members focused on the physical mess, Rob saw a deeper issue: fractured information streams, disconnected reports, and no real-time visibility.

His idea? Consolidate everything into one digital report, accessible on an iPad. Then, take it further by barcoding every bin and tracking inventory in and out with a scan.

The team loved it but had no clue how to make it happen. Rob just smiled and said, “I’ve got this.” And off he went.

By day three, he had a prototype. He coordinated with IT, repurposed a company iPad, and built a working application. By week’s end, barcodes were in place, the app was live, and the team could track every part in real time.

I personally told the CEO about Rob and urged him to nurture this rising star. “Don’t let him get away,” I said.

Today, Rob’s a sales rep for CITY Furniture with a stellar track record and the same customer-first mindset that powered his Kaizen breakthrough.

Innovation doesn’t care about age, title, or tenure. Sometimes, your quietest contributor holds the loudest solution if you’re willing to listen.