The Lean Solutions Podcast

This week I’m chatting with Paul Dunlop, a Lean expert and Principal Consultant with over 20 years of management and manufacturing experience across a broad range of industries. In this episode we talk about focusing on accountability and performance management to improve your overall productivity. We also chat about why it’s so important to build your improvement on a solid foundation so that you...

This week I’m chatting with Pennie Saum, a process improvement expert currently in the transportation field about her experience with Lean and how her past personal struggles have influenced her today. In this episode, we talk about Pennie’s work with process improvement, employee engagement, and A3 thinking. We also go into detail about her work as an author and speaker working with survivors of...

This week, I’m talking to lean expert Tim Schipper about his book Innovative Lean Development and The Highly Effective Office and how you can incorporate lean into your office. In this episode we talk about how to use lean techniques in the office and admin side of business to eliminate excess waste so your business and team can be at their optimal performance. What You’ll Learn This Episode: Usin...

This week, I’m speaking with the founder and CEO of Impruver, Inc. Calvin Williams. Calvin founded Impruver Technologies after working for 20 years as an Operations Leader and Engineer with some of America’s premier manufacturing companies, generating Billions in growth opportunities and cost savings for those he has served. In this episode we talk about daily improvement and self discipline to le...

This week, I’m speaking with certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Project Management Professional and CI Instructor Katie Labedz, about her new book “How to Improve Absolutely Anything.” In this episode we talk about Katie’s recent book and the importance of continuous improvement including how to integrate it into your everyday life even outside of the office. What You’ll Learn This Episod...

This week, I’m speaking with Karyn Ross, the author of How to Coach for Creativity and Service Excellence: A Lean Coaching Workbook, and coauthor of the Shingo Award-winning,  The Toyota Way to Service Excellence: Lean Transformation in Service Organizations. Karyn is an internationally acclaimed consultant, coach and lean practitioner, and focuses on teaching organizations of all sizes and sector...

This week, I’m talking with Bob Emiliani, engineer, researcher, author, historian of progressive management, educational reformer, and executive coach. Bob is also a long-time TPS/Lean practitioner and was the first to focus on so-called "Lean leadership" as an area of scholarly study. Dr. Emiliani is an accomplished author whose work spans three disciplines: engineering, social sciences, and huma...

This week, I’m talking with Karen Martin, President of the global consulting firm TKMG, Inc. and President and Founder of TKMG Academy, Inc. Karen is a leading authority on business performance improvement, problem solving, and Lean management systems. Known for her keen diagnostic skills and rapid-results approach, Karen and her team have worked with clients—such as Adventist Health, AT&T, Ch...

This week, I’m talking with Deondra Wardelle, a corporate trainer, licensed health coach, problem solver, motivational speaker and continuous improvement professional. Deondra is an inspirational leader who serves as a strategic business partner, cultural change steward and operational expert. She has effectively led change management process strategies that facilitate organizational transformatio...

In this episode, I talk with Ron Pereira, the co-founder of Gemba Academy and the host of the Gemba Academy Podcast.  Ron also has more than 20 years experience working in operations, engineering, supply chain, and continuous improvement. We talk about Ron’s start with Lean and Six Sigma, how the Gemba Academy was born, the importance of scientific thinking and his advice to anyone on the continuo...

In this episode, I introduce you to Question 2 out of my book, Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap: Where Are Your Leaders Spending Their Time?  I talk about leader standard work, Dr. Jeff Liker's Leadership Development Model, and the 6 key traits of a lean leader. 

In this episode, I talk with Charlie Protzman about how to leverage lean in the healthcare industry.  Charlie gives us some great history around PDCA as well as a deep dive into a few case studies where he applied the BASICS Lean Implementation Model in hospitals.  

In this episode, I play back a recording of a workshop presentation I gave at the Lean Six Sigma World Conference where I discussed the famous Marshmallow Challenge.  I introduced some facilitation techniques and discussion questions for exercise reflection time. 

In this episode, I interview Dr. Jeff Liker about The Toyota Way 2nd Edition which was recently published.  We talk about sustainment of continuous improvement initiatives, specifically, CONTROL vs. LEARNING environments.  We also discuss how Dr. Liker is using virtual reality to teach The Toyota Way in 2021.    

In this episode, I talk with my guest, John Dennis, about the International Lean Six Sigma Institute.  We talk about the differences between Lean and Six Sigma and dive into the challenges organizations face when adopting these into their organizations.  

In this episode, I discuss the new management system needed to support and sustain continuous improvement initiatives.  I give listeners an overview of the leadership traits and behaviors necessary to support lean initiatives. This is a great episode to share with your leadership team!

In this episode, listeners will hear an introduction to my new book, Avoiding The Continuous Appearance Trap.  I discuss the book dedication, introduction, and dive into the first of the twelve questions: Are you Content.  Get your copy at www.avoidcontinuousappearance.com.

In this episode, listeners will hear a piece from our Lean Leadership Certification as the Lean Solutions Academy.  I explain the difference between leadership and management, identify the five leadership actions, and define servant leadership.  

In this short episode, I give an introduction to value stream mapping along with six steps to create a value stream map.  I also list the eight point future state criteria.  

This episode was recorded as a webinar with Dorsey Sherman, Executive Leadership & Kata Coach.  We define and explore Improvement Kata in detail.  

In this episode, I talk with Steve Kane, the Director of Customer Success at the Gemba Academy.  This was a recorded webinar from a few months back but is still very relevant today as we begin looking forward into 2021. Enjoy! 

In this episode, Jack Kahler and I discuss why "cashing the check" and bottom-line impact is so important for lean initiatives.  We also discuss how to "speak the same language" as executive decision-makers when it comes to improvements and cost savings.  Jack can be contacted by emailing him at jack.kahler@xenov8.com.

In this episode I talk with Dagmar Vlahos, Lean Professional at the University of New Hampshire about Lean in Higher Education.  We discuss their model for business improvements as well as the impact of covid 19 on her work at the university.  

In episode 13, I discussed the importance of keeping things simple.  Then in episode 15, I gave a deep dive into keeping things visual.  In this episode, I talk about the final aspect of great lean cultures which is continuous improvement.  I give you three points to remember when developing a continuous improvement culture.  

In this episode, I discuss the second area important in supporting a culture of continuous improvement; keep it visual! I talk about three points that are important to remember when it comes to keeping things visual.  Enjoy!