GA 052 | The New Approach to Lean with Mark Rosenthal

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Today’s guest is Mark Rosenthal, long-time lean thinker and blogger. Mark has an extensive lean background, including positions at Boeing and Kodak. We talk about the interesting transition we have both noticed, in which more companies are using an integrated, daily approach to lean implementation, as opposed to just hosting traditional Kaizen events.

An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.  

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Mark’s background and how he was first exposed to lean (2:23)
• The transition Mark has been noticing in terms of lean implementation strategies (3:55)
• Where Mark thinks the event-driven approach came from, and why it’s been so popular (5:04)
• Why this shift is happening, and where it’s coming from (7:02)
• Why Mark loves the Toyota Kata approach (8:00)
• When Mark changed his approach, based on this new trend (8:55)
• An example of when the new approach did not work (13:07)
• The advice Mark has for organizations still using the traditional strategy (13:56)
• All about Mark’s blog, The Lean Thinker (16:43)
• What “Respect for People” looks like to Mark (17:38)
• The best advice Mark has ever received (19:19)
• Mark’s personal productivity habit (20:40)
• What Mark is always surprised by (21:28)
• What Mark does to recharge and refocus (23:38)
• The skill Mark feels he needs to improve (24:40)
• Mark’s final words of wisdom (27:16)

Podcast Resources

• Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3
• Download a Free Audio Book at Audible.com
• Mark’s Blog
• Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness and Superior Results
• Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are
• Mark’s Email
• Mark on LinkedIn

What Do You Think?

Have you noticed this transition as well? If so, in what ways?

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