The AI Agency Journey

If you’re a consultant, coach, or thought leader who relies on reputation, referrals, or content to win business, AI is already changing how people find and trust experts. In this episode, Antonio Rothenbach sits down with Andi Simon , corporate anthropologist, CEO of Simon Associates Management Consultants, and host of On the Brink with Andi Simon , to explore how AI search is reshaping visibilit...

Guest: Jess Orr – ex-Toyota engineer, former corporate OpEx leader and VP of Operations Summary: In this episode, Jess and Antonio connect the dots between Operational Excellence and Artificial Intelligence . Jess shares what she learned at Toyota, in a successful divisional OpEx transformation, in a failed enterprise-wide rollout, and later as VP of Operations — and how all of that experience sha...

Guest: Dave Rosenberg, Principal at Locked On Leadership Summary: In this episode, Dave shares 35+ years of leadership experience—from Navy officer to company president to leadership coach—and how his Radical Accountability framework helps leaders turn disengaged employees into energized contributors. Together, Antonio and Dave explore how AI tools can complement human coaching, fostering self-awa...

Host: Antonio Rothenbach, Founder & CEO of Ibero AI Guest: Donna Huntley, CEO of People Pulse Ventures Episode Summary: Fear is one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption — and it’s costing companies growth, innovation, and talent. In this conversation, Antonio and Donna break down how to replace fear with confidence through training, governance, and culture. Donna shares stories from her 20+...

Read the blog article here: https://www.beltcourse.com/blog/linkedin-growth-that-lands-ai-opex-ci-clients-without-gaming-the-algorithm A detailed guide for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Operational Excellence (OpEx), and Continuous Improvement (CI) consultants on leveraging LinkedIn for client acquisition. It outlines a strategic playbook for creating content that resonates with B2B buyers, emphas...

This episode explores the evolving landscape of continuous improvement leadership and identifies significant skill deficiencies across various sectors. It highlights universal gaps in areas like digital transformation leadership and data analytics, while also detailing industry-specific needs for Industrial Advanced (e.g., automotive, medical devices), Industrial&nbsp...

Read the source article here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/blog/the-ci-manager-crisis-why-ci-leaders-struggle-and-why-hiring-a-ci-manager-from-outside-isn-t-the-solution   Continuous Improvement (CI) Managers  frequently struggle due to issues like  team resistance, role ambiguity, and a lack of impact . The author contends that  hiring externally  is a  det...

Read the article that was the source of this discussion here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/blog/why-do-operational-excellence-implementations-fail-in-2024   Learn a better way at www.beltcourse.com   This episode explores why  Operational Excellence (OpEx) implementations often fail , identifying a primary issue as a  lack of comprehensive capability building  ra...

For a longer list of  specific easy and impactful office project examples   for each of the most common areas and functions, find it   by clicking here !     Office & Service Companies – 10 Project Ideas per area Office Functions within Industrial Organizations – 10 Project Ideas per function   The application of Lean in Offices and Service environments is sl...

Lean and Operational Excellence (OpEx) methodologies, traditionally associated with manufacturing, are highly applicable and beneficial in office and service environments. These principles address common workplace inefficiencies such as lengthy approval processes and redundant tasks by treating offices as "invisible factories" with improvable workflows. By employing tools like process mapping, roo...

Get your Kaizen Event Planning Checklist here: https://www.beltcourse.com/opt-in-66aea8d5-aee0-44d8-9b07-95328d6f098a   Get your Kaizen Event agenda template here: https://www.beltcourse.com/kaizen-event-agenda-template   This episode explains kaizen events by providing various industry-specific examples that illustrate their application in solving different operational problems. Organiz...

This episode compares various Operational Excellence (OpEx) methodologies, including Six Sigma, Lean, Theory of Constraints, Total Productive Maintenance, World Class Manufacturing, and Agile. It explores reasons for OpEx program failures, emphasizing the importance of integration, culture change, and employee involvement. It highlights the benefits of combining methodologies. If you'd like to see...

Digital transformations often fail due to internal organizational behaviors and psychological factors. Common themes in failed transformations include unrealistic expectations, internal misalignment, and resistance to change. Organizations often lack a clear vision of their future state and over-delegate responsibilities to project teams or technical implementers. Effective program management and...

Assess your OpEx Champion & Sponsor skills here! https://www.beltcourse.com/opex-champion-sponsor-skills-assessment-access   Get your own customizable OpEx Deployment A3 here:  https://www.beltcourse.com/opt-in-06eaf5f1-6189-499e-990a-12a31f011fb1     The episode discusses the crucial role and function of  steering committees  within organizational improvement ini...

  Learn more about WCM in this blog article that gathers the best resources in one place.  What is WCM (World Class Manufacturing) - Pillars and Structure Overview.  Link:  https://www.beltcourse.com/blog/world-class-manufacturing-wcm-explained-in-detail   World Class Manufacturing (WCM) is a comprehensive methodology that integrates Lean principles, Total Productive Maint...

This episode explores the JIPM TPM Award, which recognizes excellence in Total Productive Maintenance, emphasizing structured pillars and lean tools. It highlights its comprehensive structure that uses checklists and pillars. The piece details the award process, benefits such as growth and cost reduction. However, it also critiques the award's shortcomings, such as a "checklist" mentality that may...

The affiliative leadership style, emphasizing harmony and strong relationships within a team. It defines the style's core elements, such as a people-first approach, strong morals, and positive communication. The video details the advantages of this style, including improved morale and conflict resolution, while also addressing its weaknesses, like overlooked underperformance and avoidance of const...

Course Forward: Consider sharing with others to understand why TPM is more comprehensive than just Maintenance, just at one Site, or just in Operations. And if you'd like to learn more about TPM or WCM (WCM is an evolution of TPM which attempts to modernize TPM and add other managerial pillars and technical pillars which were a gap in TPM), please visit our blog sections... TPM:   https:...

Join Belt Course as a Coach here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/join-us-as-a-coach And consider becoming a Partner here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/becomeapartner Check out Belt Course's Simulation Calendar here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/simulations-calendar   Guidance on pursuing a career in Continuous Improvement (CI) consulting. It explores the role of a CI consult...

On this episode, we explore why and how the Visionary Leadership style (one of Goleman's 6 Leadership Styles based on Emotional Intelligence) can be used in an Operational Excellence setting.  Whether it's in a turnaround, a startup, or Hoshin Kanri, you'll learn about its benefits and limitations.   To learn more about Leadership in an Operational Excellence setting, visit our blog...

This episode explores commanding leadership, a style where the leader makes all decisions and enforces strict control. The hosts discuss its effectiveness (particularly in low-complexity tasks and less-skilled teams) and drawbacks (reduced employee engagement and stifled creativity) in an Operational Excellence setting.

Join Belt Course as a Coach here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/join-us-as-a-coach And consider becoming a Partner here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/becomeapartner Check out Belt Course's Simulation Calendar here:   https://www.beltcourse.com/simulations-calendar   An Operational Excellence Consultant can grow their business by partnering with Belt Course to gain access to...

Join Belt Course as a Coach here: https://www.beltcourse.com/join-us-as-a-coach And consider becoming a Partner here: https://www.beltcourse.com/becomeapartner   A comprehensive guide for building a successful consulting practice. Key strategies include defining a core service package to streamline operations, identifying ideal clients and their desired outcomes, crafting compelling offers fo...

This episode explores the concept of "pillars" in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), a system for embedding continuous improvement within an organization. Pillar teams are cross-functional teams focusing on specific areas like quality management, acting as expert groups to drive performance and break down departmental silos. The video uses quality management as an example, highlighting how a qual...

Artificial intelligence (AI) will have a significant impact (Substantial job displacement) on the job market within the next five to ten years. However, it will also bring opportunities, especially for Lean/OpEx coaches and consultants to embrace the change, mitigate its threats, and thrive in their practice or careers. We need to adapt, and we need to start now!   To learn how to start apply...