Episodes
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This week's guest is Kurt Sears. Ron and Kurt discussed continuous improvement at Dollar Shave Club, happiness versus joy, the power of living out your beliefs, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that Kurt likes (2:29)
His background (5:47)
The continuous improvement environment at Dollar Shave Club (7:37)
His two statement philosophy (9:10)
How bias plays a role in the culture (9:38)
Happiness vs. joy (13:05)
His take on stoicism (18:31)
The role of leadership in a culture of continuous improvement (21:44)
Advice for fostering project success (25:11)
Kurt's final advice (31:06)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Kurt on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on stoicism? -
This week's guest is Matthew Townsend. Ron and Matthew discussed what a broken process looks like, what happens when you automate waste, how to identify and remove it, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
Matthew's favorite quote (3:09)
His background (3:54)
Defining a "broken" process (8:28)
Examples in manufacturing (13:58)
The other issues that surface when you automate waste (17:30)
Tips for identifying and removing automated waste (19:57)
Specific mapping techniques for a front office environment (22:07)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Matthew on LinkedIn
Sparc Engineers
Sparc Engineers on LinkedIn
Sparc Industries on Instagram
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What Do You Think?
Describe a time you automated a bad or broken process. -
Missing episodes?
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This week's guest is Zack Estes. Ron and Zack discussed Zack's coaching business, applying lean in non-manufacturing contexts, the five functions of business, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Zack likes (3:16)
His background (3:34)
About Path for Growth (7:19)
Applying lean in digital spaces (8:28)
Whether he speaks about lean specifically (11:19)
Why envisioning outcomes is difficult (15:37)
The five functions of business (17:18)
Zack's reading project (27:25)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Zack on LinkedIn
Path for Growth
How to Operationalize Your Business Workbook
Zack's Reading List
GA 456 | "This Is Water" by David Foster Wallace with Alex Judd
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What Do You Think?
What are you reading this year? -
This week's guest is Jason Henderson. Ron and Jason discussed what managing expectations looks like, scientific thinking, dealing with negativity, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quotes that Jason likes (2:25)
His background (4:21)
How he discovered lean (8:46)
What managing expectations means to Jason (10:04)
Some examples (12:48)
How Jason deals with negativity (18:32)
Advice for anyone who is struggling (21:45)
What Jason would tell his younger self (23:39)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Jason on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
What does managing expectations mean to you? -
This week's guest is Jennifer Drago. Ron and Jennifer discussed having a long-term vision, data-driven strategies, overcoming resistance to change, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Jennifer likes (4:01)
Her background (4:24)
Why having strategy and vision is important (7:35)
Balancing for-profit need with altruism (10:05)
Painting the long-term vision and creating strategic pillars (15:56)
Getting total buy-in (17:25)
Communicating your vision (19:39)
Some general examples (21:18)
How Jennifer overcame resistance to change (23:27)
Other challenges she has seen leaders face (25:30)
What Jennifer is most proud of (29:30)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Jennifer's Website
Jennifer on LinkedIn
Jennifer on YouTube
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What Do You Think?
What is your long-term vision? How did you arrive at it? -
This week's guest is Royden Johnson. Ron and Royden discussed lean in South Africa, connection before correction, 5S, authority, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that Royden likes (3:23)
Royden's background (4:02)
The state of lean in South Africa (10:41)
Connection before correction (13:42)
His journey with 5S (16:11)
The contrast between moral authority and formal authority (23:24)
Accountability vs. ownership (27:22)
Advice for anyone at the early stage of their continuous improvement journey (29:27)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Royden on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
How is lean different in your country compared to other places in the world? -
This week's guest is Tim Pettry. Ron and Tim discussed outside perceptions of Toyota, Cleveland Clinic's journey with continuous improvement, and Tim's unusual workshop at the upcoming Shingo Conference. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Tim likes (2:28)
How his lean journey started (3:38)
A Ford employee's perception of Toyota (9:30)
The Cleveland Clinic Improvement Model (12:17)
How they've involved physicians (19:19)
About his unusual upcoming workshop (25:01)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Shingo 36th Annual Conference
The Cleveland Clinic Improvement Model PDF
Tim on LinkedIn
Tim on X: @valuesstreamldr
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What Do You Think?
What about Cleveland Clinic's story resonates with you? -
This week's guest is April Bell. Ron and April discussed how Jack Henry uses continuous improvement, specifically Toyota Kata. They also explored quantifying waste in an office setting, and the intersection of tools and scientific thinking. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
April's favorite quote (2:08)
Her background (2:56)
Some of the challenges Jack Henry has faced with continuous improvement (4:57)
Their experience with kata (8:38)
The framework they use (12:03)
How they quantify waste (13:38)
Their vision and plan (16:25)
The intersection of tools and scientific thinking (18:40)
The challenges they're facing (19:59)
Advice for getting started (25:30)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
April on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
Have you used kata in an office setting? -
This week's guest is Alen Ganic. Ron and Alen discussed Alen's work with the City of Grand Rapids, process improvement from the customer perspective, and the importance of celebrating quick wins. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
Alen's favorite quotes (2:02)
His background (5:21)
How the mayor discovered lean (9:12)
An anecdote about the water department (10:47)
What you can do to introduce and sustain a lean initiative (15:03)
Focusing on process improvement from the customer's perspective (21:27)
The importance of measuring (22:50)
Approaching those "in the middle" (24:10)
Alen's advice for those getting started (29:23)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Alen on LinkedIn
Gemba Academy Live City of Grand Rapids
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What Do You Think?
How do you celebrate quick wins? -
This week's guest is Michael Lombard. Ron and Michael discussed deliberate versus random practice, homeschooling, youth soccer, and what it's like using scientific thinking in those environments. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that inspires Michael (3:58)
His background (5:42)
Going from practitioner to CEO (9:11)
His family's experience with homeschooling (11:11)
Using the scientific framework with homeschooling (20:56)
Using the scientific framework with soccer (28:14)
One of Ron's favorite soccer memories (33:59)
Kata as a method of balance (38:01)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Kata School Florida
Kata School Florida on LinkedIn
GA 004 | Leveraging the Toyota Kata Approach to Learning & Coaching
GA 243 | How to Strive to Thrive
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What Do You Think?
Have you ever used scientific thinking in an unusual setting? -
This week's guest is Robb Holman. Ron and Robb discussed Robb's new book, "Lessons from Abdul," navigating crises, filtering out the "noise" in our lives, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that inspires Robb (3:30)
About his new book, Lessons from Abdul (4:47)
Who Abdul is (8:29)
Robb's basketball career (14:01)
What Robb learned from Abdul (14:53)
Receiving well with so much "noise" (19:06)
Practical tips for being better at receiving (24:47)
Where you can get Robb's book (29:22)
What else is going on in Robb's life (30:22)
A story about Robb's wife's cancer treatment (32:52)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Robb's Website
Lessons from Abdul
Robb on LinkedIn
Robb on Facebook
Robb on Twitter
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What Do You Think?
Who in your life have you learned some unexpected lessons from? -
This week's guest is Jim Huntzinger. Ron and Jim discussed what it means to build a culture of continuous improvement, what the future of continuous improvement looks like, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Jim likes (2:38)
His background (3:13)
About KataCon 2024 and other upcoming events (6:53)
What a continuous improvement culture looks like (8:53)
The commonality of having a hypothesis (11:53)
The foundational skills to building a continuous improvement culture (13:34)
Ron's horse and cart analogy (19:27)
Why it's important to share this knowledge (23:41)
What Jim thinks the future of continuous improvement looks like (28:09)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Lean Frontiers
Jim on LinkedIn
Lean Frontiers on LinkedIn
KataCon10
TWI Summit
Skills Lab
Skillpoint for Job Instruction
Skillpoint for Toyota Kata
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What Do You Think?
What else do scientific thinking and continuous improvement have in common? -
This week's guest is Carlos Pereyra. Ron and Carlos discussed Carlos's recent graduation from our Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt program, what it means to create psychological safety, measuring success, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Carlos likes (3:31)
His background (4:16)
Failing faster (7:20)
How we can encourage a culture of experimentation (11:21)
Some personal examples (12:31)
Getting people excited about lean (17:03)
Advice for leaders (19:12)
Why it is so difficult for leaders to create psychological safety (21:10)
Measuring success (23:01)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Carlos on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
How do you get people excited about lean? -
This week's guest is Jim Vaselopulos. Ron and Jim discussed business distractions, AI, and the lean parallels in Jim's book on clarity. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that inspires Jim (2:41)
His background (3:45)
Why he wrote a book (5:10)
What "clarity" means to Jim (8:03)
What he means by "business distractions" (13:39)
The lean parallels in this book (18:14)
Ron's fear regarding AI (21:52)
What it means to "leave folks one inch taller" (25:27)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Jim on LinkedIn
Jim's Book on Amazon
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What Do You Think?
What does "clarity" mean to you? -
This week's guest is Nikhil Joshi. Ron and Nikhil discussed the role of software in continuous improvement, what the future of AI looks like, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Nikhil likes (2:45)
His background (3:35)
How software plays a role in the continuous improvement world (5:44)
The future regarding AI (9:29)
Whether we'll still talk to each other (16:50)
Practical tips for using technology and software (18:59)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
The Lean Startup
Digital Hesitation
Nikhil on LinkedIn
Nikhil on Twitter
Nikhil on Facebook
Nikhil on Instagram
SNIC Solutions
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What Do You Think?
What does the future hold as far as AI goes? Will we still know how to think? -
This week's guest is Clint West. Clint "turned the tables" this week by interviewing our host, Ron Pereira instead. Together they covered everything from lean in the office, to DMAIC, resistance, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Clint likes (6:35)
His background (7:26)
The "calmness" at certain facilities (15:38)
Dealing with resistance (21:05)
A story about Clint's family (25:08)
What Ron has seen about eliminating waste in an office environment (26:27)
Ron's pet peeve regarding DMAIC (33:22)
About our Gemba Academy teleprompter evolution (39:57)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Clint on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?What is one of your lean "pet peeves"? -
This week's guest is Sam Morgan. Ron and Sam discussed Sam's journey with live coaching, including who he typically works with and what these sessions look like. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote Sam loves (3:04)
His background (4:31)
How he started doing live coaching (5:34)
Who his clients are (9:50)
What one of these sessions looks like (10:33)
What Ron is working on at Gemba Academy (15:10)
An experiment Ron could run on this obstacle (18:37)
Sam's plan for the future (26:40)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
The Practice by Seth Godin
GA 461 | Scientific Thinking and Confidence with Sam Morgan
GA 477 | Building a Diverse Continuous Improvement Community with Sam Morgan and Andres Alamillo
Sam on LinkedIn
Illuminate Coach
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What Do You Think?
Share what your experience with lean coaching has been like. -
This week's guest is Bill Leahy. Ron and Bill discussed Bill's critically important initiative to support veterans as they transition back into civilian life, and his documentary "Unturning Steel." An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that inspires Bill (3:04)
His background (3:45)
Unturning Steel's mission (8:28)
About Renaissance Reliability (12:50)
What the film is about (15:06)
About SkillBridge (21:30)
The role that lean plays (26:59)
What society can do to support veterans (30:15)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
The Unturning Steel Website
Unturning Steel on Facebook
Unturning Steel on LinkedIn
Unturning Steel on Instagram
Bill on LinkedIn
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What Do You Think?
How else could the principles of lean support and add value to this cause? -
This week's guest is Eric Recker. Ron and Eric discussed bullying, avoiding burnout, and what it means to "Win the Now." An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
The quote that inspires Eric (2:05)
His background (5:01)
What he's up to these days (7:49)
The levels of bullying (11:04)
Eric's "Win the Now" initiative (12:31)
His morning routine (18:48)
How he felt at the top of Mount Princeton (20:19)
Balancing achievement and fulfillment (25:42)
A heartwarming anecdote from Ron (29:53)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Eric's Website
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What Do You Think?
How do you plan to "Win the Now"? -
This week's guest is Scott McDuffee. Ron and Scott discussed the role of curiosity in leadership, dealing with "CAVE" people, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you'll learn:
Scott's favorite quote (3:12)
His background (3:59)
The challenges he's faced (6:01)
The role of curiosity in leadership (11:08)
A technique Scott used (13:29)
Opening up with general questions (16:30)
Scenarios that involve the power of questioning (17:50)
Dealing with "CAVE" people (21:44)
Advice Scott would give to his younger self (25:34)
What he is most proud of as it relates to his lean journey (27:22)
Podcast Resources
Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
Our Live Instructor Events
Scott on LinkedIn
Scott's Art
Scott on Instagram
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What Do You Think?
How else do you leverage curiosity and asking questions as a leader? - Show more
