Quality Time With MoreSteam

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Kim Scibelli joins the show. Kim is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt who leads supply chain and operations at AVS Bio. And after coaching teams through transformations for years, Kim has learned that you can't "pizza party" your way to culture change. Why do people say they want things to get better but resist when changes actually happen? Kim talks about...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dr. Lars Maaseidvaag joins the show to talk about one of his areas of expertise, process modeling and discrete event simulation. Lars has worked in continuous improvement for over 30 years. He's also from Ann Arbor, Michigan, which creates some good natured tension when he talks to Ohio State graduate (and your host) Dan Swartwout. In easy-to-underst...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, April Thomas joins the show. Most Lean Six Sigma professionals didn't start their careers as hospice social workers. April did. April is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt whose mission is to be an advocate, a catalyst, and a coach for transformational change. Being a hospice social worker taught her about empathy and helping people through difficult transi...

Brent Godwin of The Lubrizol Corporation steps into the spotlight on this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam. Earlier this year, Brent attended MoreSteam's Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference (BP4OpX) for the very first time. At the conference, leaders in operational excellence and continuous improvement share b est practices during keynote presentations, workshops, and peer-t...

Dan welcomes back Eric Olson to Quality Time with MoreSteam. Eric is a professor of industrial technology at Cal Poly State University and lead of the Future of People at Work Initiative. In this episode, the conversation shifts focus from AI to workplace dynamics and lean education. At the start of the conversation, generational differences in today's workforce take center stage . Then, Eric and...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Taylor Pack, Senior Manager of Process at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Taylor started her career working retail at Cracker Barrel. She became a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt through her experience at Bridgestone and the U.S. Coast Guard. Now she uses continuous improvement to help grant more wishes for children with critical...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Josh Howell, President of the Lean Enterprise Institute. Josh went from Starbucks barista to leading lean transformations at thousands of locations worldwide. Now he's working alongside lean legends Jim Womack, John Shook, and Peter Ward. Josh shares how his store was randomly selected for Starbucks' "model cafe" experimen...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Eric Olsen, Professor of Industrial Technology at Cal Poly State University. Eric spent 20 years in industry with companies like Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard before jumping into academia. Dan started the interview with a bunch of questions about Lean, but the conversation took a sharp turn into artificial intelligence t...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout hosts two-time Shingo Prize winner Drew Locher. Their conversation covers lean-driven process improvement and team leadership. Drew believes that 80% of continuous improvement is behavioral. So, have you created a safe environment for your team? Do you avoid blame-and-shame language? And because change must be directional and done with...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Michael Hathaway to the show. Michael is MoreSteam's eLearning Content Manager. Before joining MoreSteam, Michael taught at charter schools in Houston and Columbus. Now, Michael uses the lessons he learned as a professional educator to develop eLearning for continuous improvement professionals. Some educational concepts are uni...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout sits down with Dr. Mary Reich Cooper and Michael Anderson from the Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University. The conversation explores how Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence are put to work in healthcare settings. Michael is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Mary brings experience as a physicia...

What's better than one Lean Six Sigma Black Belt? Two! On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Lean Six Sigma Black Belts Raquel Chase-Kelly and James Perry to the show. Raquel and James work for Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics and use process modeling to streamline hospital operations and improve patient care. Process modeling lets you rapidly si...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Dr. Larry Inks to the show. Larry is a Professor of Management and Human Resources at The Ohio State University who previously ran talent management for Cardinal Health. Dan and Larry discuss why one clear goal keeps a team focused. They also explore change management, including the emotional aspects of change, and the differen...

Step onto the field with host Dan Swartwout as he explores a new playbook for improvement. In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan tells the story of the fictional Columbus Tigers, a football team that turns around its losing streak using Lean Six Sigma. (There actually was a Columbus Tigers pro football team about a century ago!) Football is familiar territory for many, and this episo...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dr. Jim Cole joins the podcast to share how process improvement has guided his work in both military and healthcare settings. Dr. Cole introduces tools like the Marine Corps Planning Process, OODA loops, and operational risk management. Jim shares how these military methods helped him tackle challenges in civilian healthcare. To that end, Dr. Cole re...

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout talks with Mark Reich. Mark is Senior Lean Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute and author of the new book, Managing On Purpose . Mark's book is a practical guide to Hoshin Kanri, a strategy deployment system that combines long-term vision with day-to-day execution. Managing On Purpose features step-by-step tools and a detailed c...

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout chats with Kim Koning, Aurorium's Global Director of Operational Excellence and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Kim shares his journey from wrestling mats in Indiana to leading global process improvement initiatives. He also reflects on how lessons from his early career as a plant manager and his MBA in finance shaped his approach t...

We're throwing a party for the big 2-5! MoreSteam is turning 25, and what better way to celebrate than with the 25th episode of  Quality Time with MoreSteam ! This special episode takes you on a journey through 25 standout moments from the podcast. Host Dan Swartwout revisits some of the most interesting, surprising, and entertaining highlights from past episodes. From creative uses of Lean Six Si...

MoreSteam is celebrating 25 years of process improvement! In this episode, MoreSteam founder and CEO Bill Hathaway joins the show to talk about all the milestones, mistakes, and defining moments. Bill shares stories from his early days in manufacturing, including a memorable encounter with instrument panels that didn't quite fit (spoiler: kicking them wasn't the best solution). He also talks about...

Chris Spranger's Lean Six Sigma journey began unexpectedly during a co-op at a firetruck manufacturer. Initially uninterested in quality work, he soon became fascinated by tracking production data and solving shop-floor problems. A mouse pad from his boss featuring 'ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt' and a Christmas gift request for Lean Six Sigma by Michael George sealed the deal—Chris was hooke...

In this episode of  Quality Time with MoreSteam , Thomas Paider joins the show. Tom is the co-author of  The Lean IT Field Guide: A Roadmap for Your Transformation . He is also the Vice President for Technology Infrastructure and Computing at Nationwide and a member of the Board of Directors of the Lean Enterprise Institute. This is a phenomenal conversation. According to our host Dan Swartwout, t...

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Ryan C. Weiss joins the program. Ryan is an author, entrepreneur, and president of Effective Performance Strategies. He also tells one of the best stories about continuous improvement. That story involves tools, skills, mindset, and an orangutan. (Yes, an orangutan.) You won't want to miss it. In addition to that great story, Ryan and host Dan Swartw...

This isn't your typical Quality Time with MoreSteam! To celebrate the season, we're bringing you a festive treat — a Lean Six Sigma-inspired version of  'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Packed with value streams, Gemba walks, and continuous improvement cheer, this playful adaptation blends holiday magic with the principles of operational excellence. Pause for a moment to recharge, reflect, and e...

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Meredith Brody from Constellation joins the show to discuss the successful implementation of a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt program. Constellation has a winning program called the Embedded Lean Practitioner Program. As a LSS Black Belt and Principal Project Manager at Constellation, Meredith shares firsthand experiences and practical advice on how to d...

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, we are honored to have Peter Ward join the show. Peter is Chair of the Lean Enterprise Institute, Professor Emeritus of Operations Management at The Ohio State University, and a Shingo prize winner. During this episode, we explore Peter's incredible journey in Lean and Six Sigma. Peter shares how he helped bring Lean and Six Sigma into the business s...