August 2025
Getting LEAN: A Hands-On Day of Learning with Maine MEP
Last week, our team at Tiny Homes of Maine rolled up our sleeves and got to work—not on tiny homes (for once)—but on how we work. We were thrilled to welcome the team from Maine MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) to Houlton for a full-day LEAN training workshop, and wow, did we learn a lot.
The workshop, focusing on Principles of Lean Manufacturing, wasn’t your average PowerPoint-and-coffee kind of day. This was a hands-on, fast-paced simulation that put our team right in the middle of a mini “factory” to experience firsthand what it means to go from a traditional manufacturing setup to a LEAN one.
Here’s what we dove into:
Spotting waste in processes (there are eight types—and now we can name them all!)
Using standardized work to streamline tasks
Setting up visual controls so everyone’s on the same page
Getting organized with point-of-use storage
Understanding the power of batch size reduction, setup time reduction, and pull systems
Building quality into everything we do from the start—aka quality at the source
Our favorite part? The simulation! We broke into teams and ran through multiple production cycles, each time tweaking our setup using new LEAN principles. The results were instant—and impressive. Every round, we got faster, more accurate, and way more efficient. It was like watching a well-oiled (tiny home) machine come to life.
“It was inspiring to realize we’ve been living the LEAN culture at Tiny Homes all along. Seeing the instructors impressed with our tools and teamwork made it clear—we’re already doing so much right.”
— Corinne Watson, General Manager, Tiny Homes of Maine
Why This Matters to Us
At Tiny Homes of Maine, we’ve been integrating LEAN practices into our production for years. It helps us minimize waste, reduce lead times, and keep quality at the heart of everything we do. But this training brought our whole team together in a new way. Seeing the principles in action—and feeling the difference they made—was energizing.
Beyond the hands-on skills, the training strengthened the culture shift that LEAN brings. Richard Sprague, General Manager of the Bethel Sawmill team, joined us for the session and shared this insight:
“When LEAN becomes part of the culture, it makes work/life more enjoyable for yourself and everyone!”
We couldn’t agree more. LEAN is not just about improving processes; it’s about empowering every team member to spot opportunities for improvement, speak up, and take ownership of the quality and flow of their work.
A Big Thank You
Huge thanks to Rob and Daniel from Maine MEP for making the trip to Houlton and delivering such an engaging, impactful workshop. We’re excited to carry this momentum forward as we continue to refine our processes, reduce waste, and build beautiful, efficient, high-quality homes.
Stay tuned—this is just one of the many ways we’re working smarter (and having a little fun while we do it).