GA 141 | Practicing Continuous Improvement in Japan with Zuhara Chavez

This week’s guest is Zuhara Chavez, an Industrial Engineer and PhD student. Zuhara is currently living in Japan, researching mapping tools and other continuous improvement concepts.  Ron and Zuhara discussed her work, what continuous improvement is like in Japan, and more. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The quote that inspires Zuhara (4:04)
• Zuhara’s background (4:56)
• Why Zuhara moved to Japan (5:45)
• What Zuhara is studying (6:19)
• How the concepts are different across the globe (8:07)
• What practicing lean in Japan is like (9:35)
• Why the term “lean” isn’t used that often (10:28)
• How important the humanity side is in Japan (11:53)
• The role of harmony in Japan (13:18)
• What Zuhara is currently working on (15:36)
• The kinds of tools Zuhara is seeing being used (16:53)
• What “Respect for People” means to Zuhara (18:35)
• The best advice Zuhara has ever received (20:07)
• One of Zuhara’s experiences with failure (22:52)
• What Zuhara is most proud of, relating to lean (24:11)
• The book Zuhara is currently reading (25:21)
• About the fitness movement in Japan (26:48)

Podcast Resources

• Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
• Download a Free Audio Book at Audible.com
• Zuhara on LinkedIn
• Zuhara’s Research

Register for the Upcoming TWI and Kata Summits

 

Join continuous improvement practitioners from all over in San Diego on February 21-22, 2017 for the annual TWI Summit and KataCon, the Kata Summit.

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What Do You Think?

Have you ever practiced lean in another country? How was it different? How was it the same?

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