Leadership

878 Articles

GA 343 | The Role of Ops Leaders in Integrating Lean with Jamie Parker

By Jessica Bush - October 29th, 2020

This week’s guest is Jamie Parker. Ron and Jamie discussed the role and responsibilities of ops leaders, and the challenges they face. Jamie also explained why “implementing” lean might not be the best approach.  A M

Stop Being the Expert and Be a Coach

By Steve Kane - October 23rd, 2020

I wrote the article below a few years ago and wanted to revisit it and include some thoughts on how this relates to coaching. “If I am wiser. . . it is because I know that I do not know.” ~ Socrates Is it possible that expe

GA 342 | Lean, Law, and Automation with Andrew Shapiro-Zysk

By Jessica Bush - October 22nd, 2020

This week’s guest is Andrew Shapiro-Zysk. Andrew explained how lean is being used in the legal profession, including dealing with pushback. He and Ron also discussed the power of automation and avoiding automating waste. A MP3 au

GA 341 | Exploring Quantum Lean with Sean Fields and Michael Sanders

By Jessica Bush - October 15th, 2020

This week’s guests are Sean Fields and Michael Sanders. Together with Ron they discussed the concept of quantum lean and how it can be used to streamline processes. They also explored how quantum lean compares to value stream map

GA 340 | Modernizing TWI with Ryan Weiss

By Jessica Bush - October 8th, 2020

This week’s guest is Ryan Weiss. Ryan, a lean consultant, shared his approach to optimizing performance. He and Ron also discussed the modernization of TWI, and how different learning styles play a role. A MP3 audio version of th

GA 339 | Applying Lean and Six Sigma to Human Resources with Michael Parent

By Jessica Bush - October 1st, 2020

This week’s guest is Michael Parent. Ron and Michael discussed the role of continuous improvement in HR and the challenges Michael faces. Michael also shared his take on applying these principles in untraditional contexts. A MP3

Lean Certification

5 Tips for Choosing a Lean Certification Course

By Steve Kane - September 25th, 2020

There are many Lean certification courses available from a wide variety of organizations. Choosing the right one to suit your specific needs can be a bit tricky. Here are some tips and considerations to help you find the right one for

GA 338 | Gamifying Lean with Bruno Pesec

By Jessica Bush - September 24th, 2020

This week’s guest is Bruno Pesec.  Ron and Bruno discussed innovation strategy, the intersection of respect for people and innovation, and how Bruno has been involved in gamifying lean. A MP3 audio version of this episode is ava

GA 337 | Making the Best of Bad Circumstances with Skip Steward

By Jessica Bush - September 17th, 2020

This week’s guest is Skip Steward. Ron and Skip reflected on the year thus far and on some of the different challenges COVID-19 has created. Skip also shared his take on dealing with confirmation biases. A MP3 audio version of th

GA 336 | The Process of Process Improvement with Karen Friedenberg

By Jessica Bush - September 10th, 2020

This week’s guest is Karen Friedenberg. Karen, who has a diverse career background, broke down all the different ways she approaches process improvement. From DMAIC to change management, this episode is full of practical knowledg

GA 335 | Leveraging Creative Thinking with Erlin Kakkanad

By Jessica Bush - September 3rd, 2020

This week’s guest is Erlin Kakkanad. Erlin explained the differences between critical and creative thinking, stressing the specific powers of creative thinking. If you’re looking for new ways to solve problems, this episode

GA 334 | The Benefits of System Integration with Danny Bradford

By Jessica Bush - August 27th, 2020

This week’s guest is Danny Bradford. Danny described the power of system and B2B integration, what goes into a successful integration, and how these concepts apply to different industries. A MP3 audio version of this episode is a

GA 333 | The Five Skills for Effective Leadership with Hugh Alley

By Jessica Bush - August 20th, 2020

This week’s guest is Hugh Alley. Ron and Hugh discussed the five core skills to being a good leader and boss, how it all relates to TWI, Hugh’s book, and more. A MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download h

GA 332 | Lean, Fashion Photography, and E-Commerce with Adam Murfin

By Jessica Bush - August 13th, 2020

This week’s guest is Adam Murfin. Adam described how he uses lean in fashion photography, including the pre and post-production stages. This episode is a great example of how versatile and universal lean really is. A MP3 audio ve

GA 331 | Leading and Learning at Toyota with Katie Anderson

By Jessica Bush - August 6th, 2020

This week’s guest is Katie Anderson. Ron and Katie discussed Katie’s new book, the roles of a leader,  joy versus happiness, and much more. Katie also shared some special stories about esteemed Toyota leaders like Isao Yos

GA 330 | The Power of 3P with Adam Lawrence

By Jessica Bush - July 30th, 2020

This week’s guest is Adam Lawrence. Ron and Adam talked all about 3P, including the steps involved and how it can be used for product innovation. Adam also shared a very interesting anecdote involving cat litter, corn flakes, and

Team Learning vs. Individual Learning

By Steve Kane - July 24th, 2020

Gemba Academy has been helping people gain proficiency in Lean and Six Sigma through Green Belt and Black Belt certification courses for several years. These certification courses have always included one-on-one coaching via phone or v

GA 329 | Gathering Lean Stories with Dewey Mauldin

By Jessica Bush - July 23rd, 2020

This week’s guest is Dewey Mauldin. Dewey, who works for Daimler Trucks, shared some of the experiences that have stuck with him over the years. Dewey specifically touches on takt time, purchase processes, and more. A MP3 audio v

GA 328 | Lean in Hospitality with Aaron Davidson

By Jessica Bush - July 16th, 2020

This week’s guest is Aaron Davidson. Aaron explained how he and his team use lean in the hospitality industry, including some unique examples involving cleaning hotel rooms, gambling, and more. A MP3 audio version of this episode

GA 327 | Continuous Improvement and Humanitarianism with Andrew Parris

By Jessica Bush - July 9th, 2020

This week’s guest is Andrew Parris. Andrew, who works for an NGO called Medair, explained how continuous improvement can be used in a humanitarian context. The global component Andrew discusses proves how versatile these principl

GA 326 | Lean and Law in the UK with Adam Marsland

By Jessica Bush - July 2nd, 2020

This week’s guest is Adam Marsland. Adam, a Continuous Improvement Expert at a law firm, explained how lean is being leveraged in the legal industry in the UK. Adam also gave an overall “state of the union address” on

GA 325 | Lean in the Non-Profit Sector with Lauren Wisniewski

By Jessica Bush - June 25th, 2020

This week’s guest is Lauren Wisniewski. Lauren shared her experiences helping non-profits incorporate lean, including the benefits and barriers they encounter. This episode is a great example of how lean applies to more than just

Pivotal Hubris Moments – Architecting, Detecting, or Preventing Your Demise

By Jessica Bush - June 19th, 2020

The following article was written for Gemba Academy by Mohamed Saleh, PhD Do you ever look back at an event and think, “Oh, there are so many things that I would have done differently? If only I would have known what I know now while

Respect for Humanity: To Be Lean or Not to Be, That Is the Question

By Jessica Bush - June 12th, 2020

The following article was written for Gemba Academy by Mohamed Saleh, PhD Many of us grew up admiring figures like Gandhi, King Arthur, Michael Jordan, figures of faith, and our own parents for how they inspired us. They gathered follo

GA 323 | Pivoting From Furniture to Personal Protective Equipment with Jeff Kaas

By Jessica Bush - June 11th, 2020

This week’s guest is Jeff Kaas. Jeff explained how Kaas Tailored went from making furniture to making PPE in response to COVID-19. Jeff also shared some of the mistakes they’ve made, including reverting to batch production.

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