What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald and Patrick Adams discuss the importance of strategic influence in Lean adoption, highlighting the need to show rather than tell, celebrate small victories, involve people in decision-making, and connect the dots between actions and outcomes.   By engaging employees and demonstrating the impact of changes at personal, team, and organizational levels, leaders can foster a culture of continuous improvement and drive sustainable...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss process management as it emerges as a pivotal mechanism for organizational efficiency.   Unlike mere process mapping or SOP creation, it involves continual optimization aligned with overarching goals. Effective leadership, systematic frameworks, and technological integration are key drivers, while challenges such as employee engagement and communication clarity must be navigated for successful...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Patrick Adams discuss the difficulty of navigating through a crisis of market competition and organizational chaos. Through the transformative power of Toyota Kata in Lean methodology, we can embrace a culture of scientific thinking and coaching. Learning to empower our teams, transcend conventional practices, and unlock new realms of success gives us a path to success through continuous improvement. About the Guest:  Tilo Schwarz...

What You’ll Learn: In this two-parted episode, host Andy Olrich delves into Katie Anderson’s transformative Chain of Learning workshops in Australia. Tune in as they explore attendee expectations, workshop insights, captivating leadership themes, and profound reflections. About the Guest:  Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, coach, professional speaker, and learning enthusiast, dedicated to helping purpose-driven leaders create cultures of learning and...

What You’ll Learn: In this two-parted episode, host Andy Olrich delves into Katie Anderson’s transformative Chain of Learning workshops in Australia. Tune in as they explore attendee expectations, workshop insights, captivating leadership themes, and profound reflections. About the Guest:  Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, coach, professional speaker, and learning enthusiast, dedicated to helping purpose-driven leaders create cultures of learning and...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss Kanban not just as a method, but as a choreography of productivity, transforming the manufacturing landscape into a finely tuned performance of excellence. Amidst this dance of efficiency, some voice the question: does Kanban suck? About the Guest:   Steve Ansuini is the dynamic owner of the Center for Employee Development, LLC (C4ED), founded in 2007. Specializing in Lean Manufacturing, Transactional Lean,...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald discuss the common mistakes emerging leaders often encounter. It's a conversation that highlights the transformative power of errors, turning them into stepping stones for future leadership excellence. About the Guest:   Phil Ranck, a retired 24-year United States Army veteran from Pennsylvania, excels in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, holding certifications such as Certified Department of the Army Master Black...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich discuss coaching and personal growth, highlighting the importance of iterations and experimentation in learning, emphasizing the need to focus on others rather than oneself in coaching practices.  Everyone, regardless of position or expertise, shares common struggles and the importance of normalizing vulnerability and seeking support within professional communities is essential to success. About the Guest:   Sam...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss lean methodology and its promise of efficiency and productivity improvement.  The sentiment towards Lean isn't always positive, especially when implementation goes awry. While Lean has proven to be a transformative approach for many organizations, it requires meticulous execution and a deep understanding of its principles.  About the Guest:   Maria Makrygianni is a seasoned Process Improvement Expert...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald discuss a common problem in organizations which leads to misguided initiatives and wasted resources: fake lean people. Fake lean individuals falsely claim to adhere to lean principles, adopting superficial aspects without a genuine commitment to continuous improvement. On the other hand, real lean individuals actively embrace and implement lean methodologies, fostering a culture of efficiency, waste reduction,...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich discuss a culture that values open communication, employee empowerment, and a commitment to learning enables teams to leverage tools effectively and adapt to evolving challenges. The true strength of an organization lies in its cultural foundation – a vibrant lean culture that embraces collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. A culture that values open communication, employee empowerment, and...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss The Wheel of Sustainability – a transformative framework to enhance your leadership commitment and empower teams for enduring success, as well as ideal leadership development, its impact on profitability, organizational support structures, and strategies for sustaining leader empowerment. About the Guest:  The creator of “The Wheel of Sustainability,” Adam Lawrence is an industry expert, speaker, and...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Catherine McDonald explore the slow adoption of Lean principles in small businesses, highlighting the challenges in learning Lean and coaching these principles.  The emphasis on hands-on learning and the effectiveness of the KATA approach suggest that its practical skill set makes it stand out among various Lean methodologies, prompting a discussion on why it isn't more widely promoted by leaders in the Lean space. About the...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Patrick Adams discuss embracing and celebrating failures, encouraging a mindset shift from a fear of failure to an embrace of experimentation and innovation.  Celebrating failures in Lean promotes transparency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to organizational learning, ultimately leading to more resilient and adaptive teams capable of achieving sustainable success.  About the Guest:  Mark Graban, author of "The Mistakes...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald and Patrick Adams discuss embracing the philosophy of 2-Second Lean, which empowers organizations to eliminate inefficiencies, fostering perpetual improvement for sustained growth and enhanced productivity. About the Guest:  Alex Ramirez is a highly experienced Vice President of Operations at Vallourec Tube Alloy, bringing over a decade of expertise in manufacturing and Lean principles. With a focus on eliminating waste and...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, and Patrick Adams discuss lean leadership, a transformative approach to management that prioritizes efficiency, continuous improvement, and respect for individuals within an organization. About the Guest:  Charlie Protzman is an internationally renowned Lean implementer, trainer and Shingo Prize winning author with over 35 years’ experience in Materials and Operations Management. He has consulted with manufacturers, hospitals,...

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Patrick Adams, Andy Olrich, and Catherine McDonald discuss a model that emphasizes the essential steps to launch an organization successfully, highlighting the obstacles preventing progress, such as the adverse effects of limited leadership support. It underscores the significance of daily management and leader standard work in reinforcing positive actions and behaviors. About the Guest:  Shayne Daughenbaugh is a seasoned...

In our upcoming season, our mission remains clear: empower you with the insights needed for streamlined processes, waste elimination, and building a foundation for sustainable success.  Season three brings inspiring interviews, industry trend analyses, and practical tips for navigating the business landscape. Our podcast boasts a stellar lineup of guests, from industry experts to visionary entrepreneurs, offering actionable strategies for both seasoned leaders and those starting their...

In our upcoming season, our mission remains clear: empower you with the insights needed for streamlined processes, waste elimination, and building a foundation for sustainable success.  Season three brings inspiring interviews, industry trend analyses, and practical tips for navigating the business landscape. Our podcast boasts a stellar lineup of guests, from industry experts to visionary entrepreneurs, offering actionable strategies for both seasoned leaders and those starting their...

In our upcoming season, our mission remains clear: empower you with the insights needed for streamlined processes, waste elimination, and building a foundation for sustainable success.  Season three brings inspiring interviews, industry trend analyses, and practical tips for navigating the business landscape. Our podcast boasts a stellar lineup of guests, from industry experts to visionary entrepreneurs, offering actionable strategies for both seasoned leaders and those starting their...

In this episode, Michael Bremer and I discover the key differentiators of highly effective organizations, explore the concept of a gemba walk and its importance, and discuss how to keep gemba walks fresh for continuous improvement. What You'll Learn: What is different about organizations that are highly effective at improving and the rest? What is a gemba walk? And why should I do one? What do you mean when you say, "Keep Your Gemba Walks Fresh" About the Guest: Author,...

In this episode, Stephanie Bown and I discuss solutions to common problems, the need for organizations to focus on performance systems, and the role of leaders in fostering high performance, offering practical tips for team leaders. What You'll Learn: Can you tell us a little bit about your book? What kinds of problems does this book help people address? Tell us about why organizations need to think about systems of performance? What role do leaders play in creating a high...

In this episode, Trina Poston and I highlight the unique benefits lean brings, explore its next evolutions, and discuss the crucial skill set of a successful lean leader. What You'll Learn: What is your background / how did you get into lean? Many lean practitioners have engineering backgrounds, how do you feel having a non-engineering background benefits you as a lean practitioner? What is your favorite lean practice? In your opinion, what's the next evolution of lean? What do...

In this episode, Adam Ward and I discuss quick insights on Lean's current state, avoiding common transformation errors, and unlocking momentum for stuck Lean practitioners. What You'll Learn: What are your thoughts on the state of lean today? How do you stay current with Lean trends? What are some common mistakes you see with transformations? What one piece of advice would you give Lean practitioners for the ‘20s? How can Lean practitioners who feel “stuck,” get momentum...