Lean

1699 Articles

GA 470 | Identifying and Using Your Natural Gifts with Bobby Jackson

By Jessica Bush - April 6th, 2023

This week’s guest is Bobby Jackson. Bobby explained what it means to use your natural gifts, the six different types, and how to determine what yours are. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In th

GA 469 | Improving Lives with Lean with Steve Bell

By Jessica Bush - March 30th, 2023

This week’s guest is Steve Bell. Ron and Steve discussed Steve’s work applying lean to NGOs, how he approaches Change Management, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episod

Are You Ready for Change?

By Steve Kane - March 24th, 2023

Continuous improvement is a key strategy for businesses to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment. It is a process of making incremental changes to a company’s operations, processes, and produc

GA 468 | Lean Made Simple with Ryan Tierney

By Jessica Bush - March 23rd, 2023

This week’s guest is Ryan Tierney of Seating Matters. Ryan and Ron discussed the reactions Ryan got when he first discovered lean, the importance of being both humble and curious, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is

Finding Process Improvement Opportunities

By John Knotts - March 17th, 2023

Large organizations that employ process improvement departments and teams often have a list of process improvement projects (typically called the “1 to n list”). These potential projects are prioritized, and practitioners simply ha

GA 467 | What Makes a Brilliant Process with Andy Reith

By Jessica Bush - March 16th, 2023

This week’s guest is Andy Reith. Ron and Andy discussed Andy’s time at Toyota as well as a tannery, and what Andy believes a brilliant process looks like. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

GA 466 | Problem Statements, Ideation, and Coaching with Jamie Flinchbaugh

By Jessica Bush - March 9th, 2023

This week’s guest is Jamie Flinchbaugh. Jamie updated us on what he’s learned since publishing his latest book, how he recommends writing a good problem statement, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available

One step every day

The Pearls and Turds of Continuous Improvement

By Kevin Meyer - March 3rd, 2023

My wife and I watched the documentary Stutz for the third or fourth time last weekend. It’s a unique story that always provides something new each time we watch it. The movie features actor Jonah Hill interviewing his therapist P

GA 465 | What a Unicorn Knows with Matt May and Pablo Dominguez

By Jessica Bush - March 2nd, 2023

This week’s guests are Matt May and Pablo Dominguez. Ron, Matt, and Pablo discussed Matt and Pablo’s book What a Unicorn Knows, the role of AI in business, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for do

The Six Types of Working Genius: What Makes for a Great Team & Marriage!

By Ron Pereira - February 27th, 2023

Patrick Lencioni, the author of the best-selling book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” has introduced a new concept called the Six Types of Working Genius in the book by the same title. I recently learned about these diff

GA 464 | Starting with a Process with Andrew Piland

By Jessica Bush - February 23rd, 2023

This week’s guest is Andrew Piland. Ron and Andrew discussed how continuous improvement works in the construction industry, what Respect for People looks like, supply chain waste, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is

meeting

Conducting Engaging Virtual Meetings

By John Knotts - February 17th, 2023

In process improvement, it is always best to involve a team. This helps get different points of view and perspectives on a problem. Also, having a team means that you have more people to help you do the work — especially when it

GA 463 | Academics vs. Application with Phil Ranck

By Jessica Bush - February 16th, 2023

This week’s guest is Phil Ranck. Ron and Phil talked about Lean Alaska, which Phil founded, as well as his work with the United States Army. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you

GA 462 | Fort Collins’ Lean Journey with Roland Guerrero

By Jessica Bush - February 9th, 2023

This week’s guest is Roland Guerrero. Ron and Roland discussed Roland’s experience working with the city of Fort Collins on their lean journey. Ron also asked Roland to weigh in on whether contentment and continuous improve

GA 461 | Scientific Thinking and Confidence with Sam Morgan

By Jessica Bush - February 2nd, 2023

This week’s guest is Sam Morgan. Ron and Sam discussed Sam’s coaching experiences and the connection between scientific thinking and confidence. They also discussed whether contentment and continuous improvement can coexist

Building Habits to Support Lean Initiatives: A Guide for Business Leaders

By Ron Pereira - January 31st, 2023

In the world of lean and six sigma, there’s a lot of emphasis placed on the importance of habits and processes. After all, a company’s success depends on the collective actions and habits of its employees. Here are some tip

GA 460 | Newsletter Wisdom with Ron Pereira

By Jessica Bush - January 26th, 2023

This week’s guest is our own Ron Pereira. Ron discussed two of his favorite email newsletters: The Process and The Curiosity Chronicle. He also shared some powerful content from each. An MP3 audio version of this episode is avail

Measuring The Pig In The Python

By John Knotts - January 20th, 2023

Data collection and analysis are critical in process improvement. Data shows progress in process improvement over time and serves as a barometer of process effectiveness and efficiency. Measuring a straightforward process that takes se

GA 459 | Dealing with CAVE People with Adam Lawrence

By Jessica Bush - January 19th, 2023

This week’s guest is Adam Lawrence. Ron and Adam discussed the Wheel of Sustainability, kaizen events, and how to handle “CAVE People.” An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this epis

GA 458 | Exploring Risk Analysis with Ron Pereira

By Jessica Bush - January 12th, 2023

This week we’re sharing audio from three of our newer courses on risk analysis. Learn all about Bowtie Analysis, FMEA, and Fault Tree Analysis, and check out our website to watch the free videos that accompany them. An MP3 audio

GA 457 | Leading with Care with Bob DeKoch and Phil Clampitt

By Jessica Bush - January 5th, 2023

This week’s guests are Bob DeKoch and Phil Clampitt. Ron, Bob, and Phil talked about servant leadership, toxic positivity, and what it means to lead with care. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

GA 456 | “This Is Water” by David Foster Wallace with Alex Judd

By Jessica Bush - December 29th, 2022

This week’s guest is Alex Judd. Ron and Alex listened to and discussed David Foster Wallace’s famous commencement speech, “This Is Water.” This is a very powerful episode that contains some great food for though

GA 455 | The Intersection of Lean and Sustainability with Julia Goldstein

By Jessica Bush - December 22nd, 2022

This week’s guest is Julia Goldstein. Ron and Julia discussed the concept of circular economy, what sustainability looks like in a lean context, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In th

Quick Way To Time A Process

By John Knotts - December 16th, 2022

Understanding and measuring process time is one of the most important aspects of process improvement. Much of the waste (muda) in a process causes a process to take longer than it should. When a process takes longer, customers are wait

GA 454 | Practicing Lean in a Pandemic with Sabrina McCorvey

By Jessica Bush - December 15th, 2022

This week’s guest is Sabrina McCorvey. Ron and Sabrina discussed what it’s like practicing lean in a pandemic, how she has used Gemba Academy, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. I

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