Michael Pelletier changed everything when he introduced us to Eli Goldratt, the Theory of Constraints, and The Goal. Before that there was a whole lot of whimsy driving “what to improve next?” How many Cubiscans were sold because waving a wand, so to speak, is cooler than using a ruler. (I’m not saying that Cubiscans aren’t great right now – I have no idea – but they didn’t address the constraints on our receiving floor 15 years ago.)

One of my early bad ideas that didn’t solve the problem that didn’t need solving was the “calendar dispensing work table”.

Step 1 – get yourself a solid core door and build a proper work table.
Step 2 – make that table dispense calendars to you the way a napkin dispenser dispenses napkins.

See – you’ve got a column in the middle of the table with a spring loaded platform that maintains a consistent light to moderate pressure up, and a lid on top of the column with enough friction to keep the top calendar in place until you lightly pull it toward you. (There weren’t any cross-disciplinary classes between Classics and Engineering at Davidson)

I finally conceded that it was sufficient just to stack a case-worth of calendars on your work table and pack from that. And I didn’t even have to read The Goal to finally conclude that this was arguably the best way forward.