WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute’s Podcast

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Ben Armstrong, Executive Director of MIT's Industrial Performance Center, and Jim Morgan, Senior Advisor at the Lean Enterprise Institute. They share perspectives from Ben's extensive research on the history and future of US manufacturing and Jim's first-hand knowledge of developing new products and production processes. In our discussion, we explore: The rise and decline of America's manufacturing expertise and how the decoupling of design and production has impacted innovation. Challenges currently facing small and medium manufacturers, and what investments they should consider. The role of industrial policy and government support in spurring new growth in US manufacturing. Emerging technologies like AI and how they could transform manufacturing operations going forward. This podcast was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI’s newsletter devoted to improving organizations’ innovation capability. It is the second of four in a series on process development entitled “Making Things Well.” Subscribe to the Design Brief newsletter by clicking here.

Electrification has given rise to new American automotive ventures such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid Motors. Aside from the powertrain, these companies are innovating the driving experience through breakthrough performance and by deeply integrating software into vehicle architecture. These disruptions demonstrate exciting possibilities but raise a challenge: how can companies innovate while upholding customer expectations of quality? In an episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI sat down with industry veteran and Lucid Motors’ Vice President of Quality Jeri Ford to explore that question. Jeri has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, having held leadership roles at Ford and Rivian before joining Lucid. The conversation explores: How product development impacts quality downstream in manufacturing and supply chain. The importance of collaboration between functions to achieve quality objectives. Balancing speed and quality in bringing new vehicles to market. Adapting processes for the integration of software and hardware in modern vehicles. Building alignment and a culture of quality in a startup environment. Listen to gain these insights and learn about the challenges facing the automotive industry in an era of technological change. Be among the first to get the latest insights from LEI’s Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD) thought leaders and practitioners. This article was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI’s newsletter devoted to improving organizations’ innovation capability. It is the fourth of five in a series on quality entitled “Whatever Happened to Quality First? Rethinking Product Development the Wake of Recalls and Catastrophic Failures.” Click to read the first, second, and third articles.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Emily Swaney and Alli Kulp from OhioHealth. Emily is the senior director of OhioHealth's lean promotion office, leading the organization's continuous improvement team. Alli is a senior advisor in the lean promotion office and previously worked as a registered nurse. In our discussion, we explore: The lean journey at OhioHealth since 2006 and their goal of creating a culture of 35,000 problem solvers. OhioHealth's strategic goal deployment process and how they cascade goals throughout such a large healthcare system. How lean daily management and problem solving are implemented at the frontlines through huddles and visual boards. Tools OhioHealth has developed to assess lean leadership behaviors and the management system to drive progress. Emily and Alli will lead a learning session on creating leadership assessment tools to foster development at the Lean Summit on March 19-20 in Carlsbad, CA.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Dennis Wade from Oakland University and Lisa Eshbach, PhD from Ferris State University. They share their universities' programs that provide hands-on lean learning experiences for students through collaboration with industry partners. In our discussion, we explore: The backgrounds and roles of Dennis Wade and Lisa Eshbach in academia and their work connecting students to real-world lean projects. The models used at Ferris State University and Oakland University for experiential learning projects, including course-based projects and paid internships. The impact of these programs on students' development of lean skills and tools, as well as skills like collaboration and problem-solving. Examples of projects undertaken by students, such as a kanban system for an eye clinic supply room and creating a food pickup process for a university food pantry. Dennis and Lisa will lead a learning session on connecting industry to academia at the Lean Summit on March 19-20 in Carlsbad, CA. To contribute to the James P. Womack Scholarship, which funds student internships at Oakland University, email us at [email protected]. Click here to read case studies from past student projects funded by the scholarship.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, our guests are Jennifer Trask and Brittney Heatherington from MillerKnoll. Trask is the Director of the MillerKnoll Performance System (HMPS) for business processes and dealer network, while Heatherington is a continuous improvement coach for the dealer network. In our discussion, we explore: MillerKnoll’s methodical approach to people development. How MillerKnoll has built a culture of operational excellence throughout its value stream from its factories to its dealers. How MillerKnoll successfully engages dealers in problem-solving by coaching at the gemba. The importance of approaching problems situationally versus applying a fixed solution.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Billy Taylor, former operations executive at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He is now President of LinkedXL and author of The Winning Link: a Proven Process to Define, Align, and Execute Strategy at Every Level. In our discussion, we explore: Billy’s career journey from third shift supervisor to director of North American operations for Goodyear. How Billy led a transformation of one of Goodyear’s worst-performing plants through instituting a few core principles: deliberate clarity, defined ownership, deliberate practice, and trust. Billy’s approach to scaling a management system from a single plant to multiple plants across North America through intense collaboration with plant leaders. The current challenges of retaining employees due to changing workforce mindsets post-COVID and how to re-engage workers.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI's guests are Mary Nell Egan and Lisa Karam from MassMutual, a leading insurance company. Egan and Karam delve into the intricacies of transformation in a traditionally cautious, large organization. In our discussion, we explore several key themes: MassMutual’s evolution from a tool-centric to a customer-value approach in their lean journey. The methods Egan and Karam used to engage previously disengaged leaders with lean, linking continuous improvement to corporate strategy. The critical role of meeting people where they are in mitigating resistance to change. The significance of resilience in lean transformation.

LEI chats with Frank Paluch, Retired President of Honda R&D Americas, and Lara Harrington, Retired Honda Chief Engineer. Frank and Lara share how Honda utilized Lean Product and Process Development principles to launch successful vehicles like the Honda Passport. During the conversation we dive into the following: Understanding Customer Value – As Chief Engineer of the Honda Passport Lara explains how she used rapid prototyping and gathered consumer feedback early in the development process to determine a vehicle design that would appeal to customers and grow Honda’s market share. The Chief Engineer – Frank and Lara reflect on the chief engineer’s role, what makes a great chief engineer, and the matrix organization in which they work. People Development – Comparing hiring in engineering talent versus developing it internally. Future of the Auto Industry – Discussing the industry push toward EVs and contrasting Tesla’s approach to development to Toyota’s. Special note: Lara and Frank will lead a keynote about Lean Product and Process Development at the Lean Summit in March 2024. To learn more and register, click here.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with Jill Katic and Grace Eovaldi from Barton Malow, a major construction company that has recently seen significant growth. Jill and Grace share how they've been working to foster a culture of problem solving throughout Barton Malow, principally through a program dubbed Lean University. During the conversation we dive into the following: Lean Principles and A3 Problem-Solving: Exploring Lean University's five-day training program, which introduces participants to lean principles and the A3 problem-solving method over a three-month period. Problem Identification and Analysis: How Jill and Grace use the program to help participants identify and dissect problems in their work, guiding them in developing effective countermeasures. Business and Cultural Results at Barton Mallow: Insights into the tangible business outcomes and cultural shifts experienced by Barton Malow since beginning Lean University. Lean Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: The significance of Lean University for organizations seeking to cultivate lean thinking and problem-solving abilities among their employees. Barton Mallow's Lean Journey: An overview of Barton Malow's experience with Lean University and its role in transforming the company's culture. Special note: Jill and Grace will lead a learning session about building a problem-solving culture through Lean University at the Lean Summit in March 2024. To learn more and register, click here.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we talk with Fabrice Bernhard and Catherine Chabiron. Fabrice is the co-founder of Theodo, a fast-growing software company, and Catherine is the author of the new book, Learning to Scale at Theodo: Growing a Fast and Resilient Company. Fabrice and Catherine share how Theodo has seamlessly integrated lean thinking into its management system enabling it to grow rapidly while maintaining a customer-first mindset and ship quality software. During the conversation, we dive into: Lean vs. Agile: How Theodo found lean thinking and how it complements agile, while challenging traditional perspectives in the software industry. Quality vs. Speed: Navigating the delicate balance between producing high-quality code and meeting the demands for rapid delivery. Customer Focus: How lean has enhanced Theodo’s customer-centric approach, making it a hallmark of their operations. Learning Organizations: The role of continuous learning in building resilient teams that not only solve technical problems but contribute to organizational growth. People Development: How Theodo leverages problem-solving at the gemba to foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee development. Special note: During the conversation, we mention the book The Toyota Way of Dantotsu Radical Quality Improvement, which Theodo has been using to transform its approach to improving quality.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with Mehmet Gur, Senior Director of Operations Engineering at DHL eCommerce. He has been leading the company's next-generation automation efforts. Since the pandemic, DHL eCommerce – DHL's business-to-consumer unit – has faced dramatic increases in volume. This surge required new automation technology to meet customer demand and heightened expectations regarding delivery speed. Mehmet oversees a large team of technical engineers tasked with meeting this challenge. During the discussion we touch on: Lean Thinking and Automation: How Mehmet's team used value-stream mapping to close the gap between automation equipment’s theoretical throughput and actual throughput. Automation Evaluation: What should organizations consider before investing millions in new technology. People Development: How to use problem-solving at the gemba to not just solve intractable technical problems but develop engineers. AI in Distribution: How emerging technologies are revolutionizing logistics for higher throughput and customer satisfaction. Mehmet will lead a learning session on these themes at the LEI Lean Summit in March 2024. To learn more and take advantage of early registration discounts, visit lean.org/summit. Register by October 31 to save up to $900 on your summit registration.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with Jay Multanen and Jared Ragozzine from Bestbath, a manufacturer specializing in showers and bathtubs for both commercial and residential buildings. Jay is the co-CEO, while Jared is Director of Lean and Continuous Improvement. During the conversation we touch on: Organizational Transformation: Gain insights into how Bestbath has built a problem-solving culture through methodical structural changes and targeted people development strategies. Competitive Differentiation: Understand how adopting lean practices has not only streamlined their operations but conferred a significant competitive edge in the market. Strengthening Partnerships: Learn how lean thinking has fortified Bestbath's relationships with their construction trade partners, thereby enhancing collaborative opportunities. Profit-Share Model: Explore Bestbath's innovative profit-sharing scheme that has been pivotal in fostering the right behaviors across all levels, from the C-suite to the shop floor. Jay and Jared will host a learning session on building a problem-solving culture at the Lean Summit on March 19-20, 2024. Register by October 31 to save up to $900 on your registration. Click here to learn more and register.

In the latest episode of the WLEI podcast, we delve into hoshin kanri (strategy deployment) with Otto Funke and Joseph Tamayo from GlobalFoundries, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing. Otto has overseen the strategic planning process at one of GlobalFoundries' production facilities for sixteen years. He will share insights on how the site has developed a robust process that has withstood leadership changes. Alongside Joseph, they will explore how this process creates alignment around objectives, both vertically and horizontally, enabling front-line workers to link their tasks to broader corporate goals. Furthermore, they will shed light on how this strategic approach is instrumental in cultivating GlobalFoundries' next generation of leaders. Otto and Joseph will host a learning session on hoshin kanri at the Lean Summit on March 19-20 with optional workshops on March 21-22. Register by October 31 to save up to $900 on your registration. Click here to learn more and register.

In the latest episode of the WLEI podcast, we explore the topic of organizational change with Dr. Lynn Kelley, former vice president of supply chain and continuous improvement at Union Pacific Railroad and author of the new book Change Questions. Kelley posits that there is no such thing as a fixed plan for a successful transformation. Leaders must approach change situationally, recognizing they face unique challenges no single method could address. In her book, she proposes a series of questions that methodically guide management to implement change and measure its impact: What is your value-driven purpose? What is the work to be done to achieve the purpose or to solve the problem? How will you engage and develop employees? How will you establish a supportive management system with the appropriate leader behaviors? What are your organization's beliefs, values, norms, attitudes and assumptions? By grappling with these questions, leaders will be able to design and implement a lasting transformation that leads to better business outcomes and engaged employees. To learn more about the book and download a free digital workbook, check out www.changequestions.net

In the latest episode of the WLEI podcast, we take a deep dive into a new venture whose goal is to rekindle America’s industrial tradition. Re:Build Manufacturing was founded by former Amazon executive Jeff Wilke in 2021. We sat down with its CEO Miles Arnone and Chief Lean officer Bonnie Davis to learn about Re:Build Manufacturing’s purpose and how it fulfills it. For decades U.S. manufacturers swept up by the opportunity to maximize profits with low-cost labor have been offshoring manufacturing. But the short-term boost in profits has generated long-term, unintended consequences. Communities that once thrived on manufacturing experienced severe economic downturns. This decline led to increased economic inequality, as those who lost their jobs struggled to find employment that matched their skills and offered comparable wages. Also, manufacturers struggled to protect their innovations as overseas suppliers threatened intellectual property theft or infringement. And the offshoring trend has eroded America's manufacturing and engineering capabilities. As companies began to rely on overseas suppliers, they lost valuable knowledge and skills that were once a hallmark of American industry. During the podcast, Miles and Bonnie delve into the specifics of how Re:Build's strategy works, as well as the company's culture and mission. They provide valuable insights into the future of American manufacturing and the vital role that Re:Build aims to play in reshaping it.

While Lean can trace its direct roots to the production system launched by Toyota more than 50 years ago, its timeless appeal translates into immediate practical countermeasures in a surprising number of situations. What A Unicorn Knows, a terrific new book by authors Matt May and Pablo Dominguez, proves this by presenting a comprehensive application of lean principles that couldn’t be more timely. Join us for their conversation with WLEI host Tom Ehrenfeld for a wide-ranging exploration of the deep relevance of lean for growing companies today.

What is the best way to tackle complex problems? Getting better at this perennial challenge certainly fuels the beating heart of lean practice. It is the key theme in author Paolo Savaget's new book, The Four Workarounds: Strategies from the World’s Scrappiest Organizations for Tackling Complex Problems. He discusses his findings with WLEI host Tom Ehrenfeld.

Lean practice has always coexisted with technology that enables the human operators to do their job better—in the service of delivering more value with less waste to the customer. But do today’s digitized, information-saturated, workplaces provide so much assistance that the machines actually get in the way? In his new book, Augmented Lean, co-author Natan Linder talks with WLEI host Tom Ehrenfeld about how Tulip, the company he co-founded to provide a “human-centric framework for managing frontline operations,” seeks to delegate technology and improvement to the operators doing the key lean work.

Lean veteran Billy Taylor, author of the new book The Winning Link: A Proven Process to Define, Align, and Execute Strategy at Every Level, discusses with WLEI Host Tom Ehrenfeld how to cultivate "extreme leadership" as a means of building a cohesive and top-tier organization. Bill shares a "connected operating system" that, he says, helps people and organizations define and achieve ambitious goals. He learned and developed this approach through decades of success at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Organizing a restaurant kitchen is a daunting task to think about. Find and establish the problems at hand, implement an improved process to adhere to those problems. It all lends itself towards increased profitability, more respect for the workers with emphasis on value-creating work, increased tact-time; but its also much easier said than done. A flagship restaurant worked with LEI coaches and learned to increase their profitability through the lens of storytelling, where each piece is an innate - and respected - part of the whole. Listen in to hear how this all came together, and also check out the case study complementing this podcast.

Regret, the pervasive and often toxic emotional mess most of us invariably experience, need not be so painful, says best-selling author Dan Pink. In fact, his new book The Power of Regret counsels readers to deliberately view regret as a process that can be examined in a way to help us all lead better lives. This WLEI podcast with host Tom Ehrenfeld explores how Pink came to this conclusion and explores parallels between his approach to processing regret and Lean’s mindful approach to framing problems for continuous improvement.

In 2021 Toyota Motor became the first manufacturer from outside the United States to sell the most cars in the USA. While this news hook may very well prove to be transient, it raises key issues about what has accounted for the company’s success. What aspects of Toyota’s vaunted production system, which is foundational for lean, have supported its success? How does Toyota’s approach contrast with a company such as Tesla? How can companies productively balance the need to develop products that dazzle consumers with the need to simultaneously develop the brilliant processes that produce these coveted items? Join LEI founder Jim Womack and LEI President Josh Howell in a conversation hosted by Tom Ehrenfeld about lean’s enduring value in today’s time of discontinuity.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, Matt Savas sits down with LEI President Josh Howell and Richard Vellante, Executive Director of Community and Training Events at LEI. They discuss the labor shortage and recent supply chain issues with the perspectives and intuition, as well as addressing recent blames towards lean within the supply chain industry. Leadership is at the center of these topics, with Rich's experience as an Executive Chef lending some hands on nuance to the conversation. Leaders should be hard on the process, not the people getting accustomed to that process. NFT's are also discussed, as their ever developing trajectory in the media landscape surely can borrow a thing or two from the way that lean thinkers lead and act.

How much of your work time do you spend doing actual work that leverages what you do best? And how much of your invaluable time and focus is chipped away by myriad distractions—of which the most pernicious might be email and its constant demand for your attention. I’m Tom Ehrenfeld, host of the Lean Enterprise Institute’s WLEI podcast. I spoke with author Cal Newport about his newest book, A World Without Email, where he challenges us to rethink why we need to be constantly plugged into communication that seldom helps us produce valuable work.

As we slowly emerge from the long pandemic, LEI and colleagues like the Good Jobs Institute are deeply committed to helping produce decent jobs. In this conversation, LEI President Josh Howell spoke with Executive Director Sarah Kalloch of the Good Jobs Institute about ways they are both working to help foster good work. WLEI Host Tom Ehrenfeld moderated this conversation. Download a transcript of the conversation here.

Roger Martin’s terrific new book When More is Not Better proposes tangible suggestions for broadening the economic gains from democratic capitalism. He critiques the concentration of wealth and power that decades of what he calls America’s Obsession with Economic Efficiency have generated, proposing tangible measures for business leaders, politicians, educators and citizens to pursue. In this conversation with LEI Host Tom Ehrenfeld, Roger explores lean-adjacent measures that complement his message. What operational, approaches might be considered in concert with his policy-based and systematic suggestions? Download a transcript of this talk here.

Lean done right can dramatically boost the value of any enterprise over the long term, argues Cliff Ransom. For decades Cliff has been analyzing the value of companies by researching and above all visiting them to suss out the integrity of their lean practice. His detailed reports (by his firm Ransom Research) on the performance of companies such as Danaher, GE, Fortive, and many others are closely followed by a passionate slice of the investment world. The following conversation drills down into the lessons learned from looking at public companies through lean-colored glasses. Click Here to download a transcript of the conversation.

Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg makes a bold promise in his new book, What’s Your Problem? (Harvard Business Review Press, 2020). He seeks to upgrade people’s ability to solve problems by understanding how to solve the right problems. Learning to reframe problems can help people to stop chasing the wrong solutions, better understand what they are grappling with, and, in some cases find radically better solutions. Join us in listening to his insights on ways that everyone can boost their ability to solve the right problems. Click here to download a full transcript of the conversation.

The global pandemic coupled with profound structural economic shifts are two daunting challenges reinforcing the need for a powerful method of framing and facing crucial problems today. Over the past year, our monthly podcast WLEI has aired conversations with Jim Womack, Dan Jones, Karen Gaudet, and other thought leaders exploring the power of lean—and adjacent schools of thought—as a source of promising countermeasures. Lean can help people face problems both large (reviving healthy enterprise in this economy) and small (clarifying tangible ways to create workplaces that respect their workers). Thinkers such as Dan Heath discussed the power of solving problems completely--but more importantly, preventing them from happening in the first place. Author/coach Karen Gaudet explained how a disciplined system of standard work can create a workplace that is resilient enough to respond to unimaginable tragedy. And while tackling external problems is vital, many individuals also noted the need for lean to squarely face its own challenges. Jim Womack addressed the perennial misunderstandings attributed to lean when things fall apart. Mark Deluzio led a conversation with Art Byrne and Jim Womack about the struggle to spark meaningful lean adoption. And Dan Jones proposed powerful ways of rethinking lean for the future. These talks provide a wealth of insights for you to apply as practical tips—and ways to think deeper about your lean journey.

Professor Jeffrey Liker’s The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles From the World’s Greatest Manufacturer has proved to be one of the most influential books of the lean movement—and beyond. Last month he published a revised second edition of this classic resource, bringing new thinking and context to his explanation of what makes this system so dynamic and enduring. Liker explains his emphasis on what scholar Takahiro Fujimoto calls its “superior evolutionary learning capability,” providing more grit and clarity on topics such as its organic (not mechanistic) nature. Listen to him discuss these topics with LEI Senior Editor Tom Ehrenfeld in this new edition of the WLEI podcast. You can download a PDF of the transcript at https://www.lean.org/Search/Documents/600.pdf

The long-term success of companies like Danaher, Fortive, Herman Miller, Parker Hannifin and many others, have all validated the power of lean thinking and practice. But if that’s the case, why aren’t there more exemplars? And why do so many companies either intentionally misconstrue Lean, or fail to realize its full promise over time? Long-time Lean veteran Mark Deluzio has recently published Flatlined: Why Lean Transformations Fail and What to Do About It. Join him, Art Byrne, Jim Womack and host Tom Ehrenfeld in a wide-ranging conversation about the ongoing gap between operations at most companies—and an ideal Lean state. Be sure to download an edited transcript of their conversation here.

“It’s only a failure if you don’t learn,” says Mr. Isao Yoshino, who shared many key lessons from his career at Toyota with Katie Anderson, who based her new book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn on his experience and insights. Join us for a podcast with host Tom Ehrenfeld that explores the lessons gleaned from his career at Toyota. Download a complete transcript of the conversation here: https://www.lean.org/Search/Documents/597.pdf

Lean has always promised great improvements for health care providers, but has there been a personal element that has been lacking to date? In this episode of WLEI, two healthcare giants, Kim Barnas and John Toussaint, will share a key insight from their new book Becoming the Change: they argue that personal transformation on the part of healthcare leaders plays a vital role in broader organizational change. Listen in for insights and advice on how to help your lean effort. You can download a transcript by copying the following URL into your browser: https://www.lean.org/Search/Documents/596.pdf

As all of us try to figure out how to work in this pandemic-tinted world, lean practice suggests a few practical approaches. In this special edition of WLEI, the podcast of the Lean Enterprise Institute LEI’s Josh Howell, Matt Savas, and Masia Goodman talk about how the design of the upcoming Virtual Lean Learning Experience taps into lean ways of learning and leverages the latest learning technologies. You can download a transcript by copying the following URL into your browser: https://www.lean.org/Search/Documents/594.pdf

Industry 4.0 is not a disruptive force that makes TPS irrelevant, but rather can be an enabler that builds on lean culture and thinking. What principles should lean companies prioritize as they introduce digital tools into their work? Lean thinkers Jeff Liker and Jim Morgan start with the basics of people, processes, and purpose. Listen in to their thoughts as they discuss the TPS-Industry 4.0 mashup with Host Tom Ehrenfeld in this latest episode of WLEI. You can read and download a complete transcript of the conversation Copy and past this link: https://www.lean.org/common/display/?o=5333

Over the past five years, the Lean Global Network’s Lean Healthcare Initiative has carried out extensive research in eight hospitals across five countries, and recently published the white paper, "5 Guiding Principles to Transform Healthcare." In this podcast, LEI Senior Coach and white paper co-author Alice Lee shares insights into the research conducted by this group of “tailors” (individuals who saw patterns and helped identify how to apply them). She expands on the five guiding principles they developed and explains how these insights were gleaned from healthcare organizations. The principles provide guidance for any chief architect in any organization looking for traction with their lean work. You can download a free copy of the paper here. Download a transcript of the conversation here. Learn from top healthcare leaders who are transforming their organizations through lean thinking and practice, including, Lisa Yerian, MD, Chief Improvement Officer at the Cleveland Clinic, and John Shook, senior advisor to the Lean Enterprise Institute Kimberly Eng, Chief Operating Officer, Lynn Community Health Center, and Kiame Mahaniah, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Lynn Community Health Center Jack Billi, MD, Medical Director, Collaborative Quality Initiatives, and Professor of Medicine, Public Health, and Engineering, University of Michigan Carlos Frederico Pinto, M.D. (aka Dr. Fred); CEO; Instituto de Oncologia do Vale (IOV) Get more details about and register for the Virtual Lean Learning Experience 2020.

Regardless of how well you track tangible metrics in your workplace, neglecting underlying emotions has enduring costs, says Susan David, author of the best-selling book Emotional Agility. Many performance gaps are partly caused by human factors—underlying conditions that don’t necessarily show up on Pareto charts, yet have as much relevance and bearing on business outcomes as other common gaps that are identified as problems to address. Join this WLEI podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the need to acknowledge and “manage” emotions as a means of developing broader agility for your work team.

"What will the world look like when Covid-19 recedes, and what role will Lean play? According to Lean Pioneer Dan Jones, Lean can play a key role in shaping the emerging economy in numerous ways—not simply boosting performance of legacy assets of mass production, but also helping to scale up new technologies much faster through several generations with user feedback. “Most significantly, it can mobilize the creative contribution of everyone, including users, to develop very different and sustainable systems for the future.” Tune in to this conversation between Dan and WLEI Podcast Host Tom Ehrenfeld for an engaging conversation into the potential role of Lean as we move into and beyond this current age. Download a transcript of the interview here. And check out this Lean Post adapted from Dan’s talk."

"What is the role of a lean leader, and what is the humbling daily work that goes into this task? How can one humbly assume the very ambitious role of leading others in earnest lean practice? And how does one prepare for heroic actions by creating a steady cadence of productive daily habits? These are the types of questions explored by Karen Gaudet in her new LEI book titled Steady Work. Tune in to her podcast with Tom Ehrenfeld here."

“We should shift more of our energies upstream personally, organizationally, nationally, and globally. We can and we should stop dealing with the symptoms of problems again and again, and start fixing them." So writes author Dan Heath in his terrific new book Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen, which has just been published. This conversation between LEI editor Tom Ehrenfeld and Dan explores the practical applications of the upstream mindset, and; given the timing, explores how upstream thinking is all the more relevant in our current pandemic. Please listen in, and stay tuned until the final minutes of this podcast: Dan makes a special offer to all you listeners!

In his talk from the 2018 Designing the Future summit, Rivian COO and LEI Senior Advisor Jim Morgan discusses how Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD) serves as an enterprise activity that can engage the entire organization and improve operations and growth. LPPD's principles and practices will result in better products, argues Morgan, who shares the following key ideas: *People first *Understand—then execute *Design new value streams *Create a framework of success *Constantly learn and improve *Establish an effective management system Tune in here to listen to the full podcast of his presentation about creating a shared future. And download a transcript of this talk here. Read more from Jim by checking his previous articles: Creating New Value and A Lesson in Fundamentals Are You Building High-Performing Teams? Product Focus=Customer Focus The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection TPS 2.0? Also check out his book Designing the Future Finally, learn more about the 2020 DTF summit

In times of crisis, lean offers a stable approach to healthy work. Furthermore, as Jim Womack notes in this podcast with Tom Ehrenfeld, foundational lean practices such as just-in-time supply chains are not—and have never been—liabilities in a time such as today’s coronavirus outbreak. Misguided stories about the woes of JIT are as misguided today as they were when they appeared during avian flu, SARS, and other legitimate medical events that required large supplies of emergency goods. Womack also talks about the lessons to be found in Karen Gaudet’s book Steady Work as they relate to having a stable work environment that enables people to not think about the work—but to already have that mindfulness built in, so they can simply serve other humans in the moment, at a time of great need. Listen to this conversation on the LEI podcast here. Related articles/content: Jim Womack’s 2006 essay Just In Time, Just In Case and Just Plain Wrong. Jim Womack’s 2006 essay Fewer Heroes, More Farmers. Karen Gaudet’s book Steady Work.

Spoiler alert! The food you just ate is not fresh. It was "sourced" longer ago than you'd imagine. And since that time, it's been handled in batch after batch. The same can be said for many lean transformations - one batch of improvement activity after another. Zingerman's Mail Order has been reducing batch sizes for 15 years, acting as a sort of "model line" for the entire food industry. Tom Root and Josh Howell discuss ZMO's lean transformation and their many lessons learned, searching for useful takeaways for you the listener.

If you do not yet know the company Rivian you will undoubtedly know it very soon. In 2019 Rivian made waves in the auto industry by announcing two “electric adventure vehicles”, the R1T – an electric pickup truck - and the R1S - an electric SUV. Both vehicles are expected to launch in the United States later this year and globally in 2021. Rivian is also developing a fleet of electric delivery vans to fulfill a 100,000-unit order placed by Amazon. In the last twelve months the electric vehicle company has raised 3 billion dollars. Listen in to hear how R.J. and Jim are bringing this vision to life. Reference links: Podcast teaser video Rivian.com Episode One: The Climb | Adventurous Forever | Rivian Elon Musk’s New Nemesis: Rivian Founder R.J. Scaringe Has a $3 Billion War Chest And Tesla In His Headlights

Andrew Lingel, President of United Plastic Fabricating, discusses leading lean transformation of a family business through knowledge, grit, and outrage.

Ron describes the Deublin Company's business system built with lean thinking that puts human development at the center

January 27, 2020 Featuring: Deborah McGee and Bryant Sanders As this series continues to explore the implications and dynamic of “coaching” in a business environment, Bryant Sanders models the mindset and techniques for coaching work improvement to develop people. Bryant draws on 26 years Toyota experience to facilitate his coaching techniques with a team in the field leading to a dramatic improvement in the work. He walks us through the story from deciding where to focus, to earning the team’s trust, facilitating reflection solidifying the what and the why and then leveraging one another’s strengths to upskill the team and eliminate difficulty and waste in the work. An excellent study in masterful coaching on the floor where the work happens. We invite your thoughts and experiences about coaching and being coached: email your stories! [email protected] Related Articles/ content: · The Hard Work of Making Hard Work Easier (article) · Job Breakdown Sheet (pdf) · Making Hard Work Easier (article)

Too often, a change in executive leadership can bring a lean transformation to a grinding halt. But that has not been the case at Lynn Community Health Center (LCHC). Within two years of the start of their lean journey, LCHC CEO Lori Abrams Berry announced her intention to retire. The immediate reaction from the LCHC community was concern that her departure would impact the progress made on advancing lean thinking and practice with improved outcomes and engagement of its team members. Instead, the impending CEO transition was embraced as a challenge, a gap to tackle. Learn how LCHC approached this executive leadership transition to ensure the continuity of their lean transformation. John Shook’s favorite conference keynote of all time Using lean thinking to improve hypertension in a community health centre Ep. 9 Leadership, Building Consensus, and Embracing Culture with Dr. Kiame Mahaniah and John Shook Lean Summit 2020 Surviving CEO Change, Evolving Through Culture and Being a Humble Leader Lean Coaching Summit

Josh Howell shares his decade-end reflections, focusing on why he left Starbucks in 2013. His reasons may surprise you. He also interrogates the question, “If a company discontinues a formal lean initiative, or lean program, or lean team, does that mean its lean implementation has failed?”

Pat Greco In 2011, Dr. Pat Greco began as the superintendent of the Menomonee Falls School District in Wisconsin. She faced no shortage of problems: a suspension rate seven times higher than the state average, performance gaps across income and race, cost overruns, and a failure to meet performance goals defined under the No Child Left Behind Act among others. Not to mention a new administration was upending collective bargaining for public sector employees instilling fear within the teachers she was setting out to lead. By the end of her tenure she had led the school district to rank as one of the country’s best. She did so primarily through PDCA cycles in the classroom between teachers and students, as well as between management and the board of education.