My guest for Episode #324 of the podcast is Art Smalley. Art was one of the first Americans to work for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan and, since then, has been helping other organizations with the Toyota Production System (a.k.a. “Lean”) methods and approaches. You can also visit his website to learn more, <a href='http://artoflean.com/'>www.ArtOfLean.com</a>.
Art is a fellow <a href='https://www.lean.org/WhoWeAre/LeanPerson.cfm?LeanPersonId=49'>faculty member at the Lean Enterprise Institute</a>. He has written two Shingo Publication Award-winning books: <a href='https://amzn.to/2T0yMdd'>Creating </a><a href='https://amzn.to/2T0yMdd'>Level Pull </a>and (co-authored with Durward Sobek) <a href='https://amzn.to/2DeB2bD'>Understanding A3 Thinking</a>. Art later wrote <a href='https://amzn.to/2T57vGO'>Toyota's Kaizen Methods: </a><a href='https://amzn.to/2T57vGO'>Six Steps to Improvement</a> with Isao Kato.
I own all of these books and have only met Art briefly in the past, so I'm happy to finally have him here as a guest. Today, we'll talk about Art's career and his most recent book, <a href='https://www.lean.org/Bookstore/ProductDetails.cfm?SelectedProductId=418'>Four Types of Problems</a>, published by the Lean Enterprise Institute (note: LEI provided me a free electronic copy of the book).
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

My guest for Episode #324 of the podcast is Art Smalley. Art was one of the first Americans to work for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan and, since then, has been helping other organizations with the Toyota Production System (a.k.a. “Lean”) methods and approaches. You can also visit his website to learn more, www.ArtOfLean.com. Art is a fellow faculty member at the Lean Enterprise Institute. He has written two Shingo Publication Award-winning books: Creating Level Pull and (co-authored with Durward Sobek) Understanding A3 Thinking. Art later wrote Toyota's Kaizen Methods: Six Steps to Improvement with Isao Kato. I own all of these books and have only met Art briefly in the past, so I'm happy to finally have him here as a guest. Today, we'll talk about Art's career and his most recent book, Four Types of Problems, published by the Lean Enterprise Institute (note: LEI provided me a free electronic copy of the book). I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

My guest for Episode #324 of the podcast is Art Smalley. Art was one of the first Americans to work for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan and, since then, has been helping other organizations with the Toyota Production System (a.k.a. “Lean”) methods and approaches.&nbsp;You can also visit his website to learn more,&nbsp;<a href="http://artoflean.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.ArtOfLean.com</a>.
Art is a fellow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lean.org/WhoWeAre/LeanPerson.cfm?LeanPersonId=49" rel="noopener noreferrer">faculty member at the Lean Enterprise Institute</a>.&nbsp;He has written two Shingo Publication Award-winning books:&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/2T0yMdd" rel="noopener noreferrer">Creating&nbsp;</a><a href="https://amzn.to/2T0yMdd" rel="noopener noreferrer">Level Pull&nbsp;</a>and (co-authored with Durward Sobek)&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/2DeB2bD" rel="noopener noreferrer">Understanding A3 Thinking</a>. Art later wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/2T57vGO" rel="noopener noreferrer">Toyota's Kaizen Methods:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://amzn.to/2T57vGO" rel="noopener noreferrer">Six Steps to Improvement</a>&nbsp;with Isao Kato.
I own all of these books and have only met Art briefly in the past, so I'm happy to finally have him here as a guest. Today, we'll talk about Art's career and his most recent book,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lean.org/Bookstore/ProductDetails.cfm?SelectedProductId=418" rel="noopener noreferrer">Four&nbsp;Types of Problems</a>, published by the Lean Enterprise Institute (note: LEI provided me a free electronic copy of the book).
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Art Smalley, “Four Types of Problems”

Started in 2006, the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast, hosted by Mark Graban, brings you conversations with leading experts, authors, and thought leaders in lean manufacturing and management. As a Lean practitioner, consultant, and author, Mark Graban offers deep insights, real-world experiences, and practical tips for implementing and enhancing Lean practices across various industries.

The Podcast Experience

Mark Graban engages his guests in a conversational format, covering a wide array of topics related to Lean. Guests come from diverse backgrounds, including healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries, sharing their unique experiences and perspectives on Lean implementation.

Core Topics

Lean Principles and History: Dive into the foundational aspects of Lean, its history, and core principles.
Industry Applications: Explore how Lean is applied in different industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and startups.

Continuous Improvement: Learn about value stream mapping, process improvement, and culture change.

Leadership and Management Systems: Gain insights into the Toyota Production System and related methodologies, focusing on Lean as a culture, philosophy, and management system rather than just a set of tools.
Unique Features

Focus on Healthcare: Mark Graban, a renowned advocate for Lean in healthcare, frequently features experts who discuss patient safety, quality improvement, and waste reduction in healthcare settings. Hear success stories and practical advice on implementing Lean in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations.

Practical Advice and Real-World Examples: Guests share their experiences and insights into what works and what doesn’t in Lean implementation. Overcome common challenges and get inspired by success stories.

Inclusivity and Diversity: The podcast features a range of guests from diverse backgrounds, enriching discussions and providing a comprehensive understanding of Lean’s challenges and opportunities.

While we don’t talk much about Lean Six Sigma, we hope the podcast is helpful to you anyway.

Why Listen?

Whether you’re new to Lean or a seasoned practitioner, the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast is a valuable resource offering insights, tips, and inspiration for improving your organization’s performance and achieving Lean goals. With its engaging format, practical advice, and diverse range of guests, this podcast is essential for anyone interested in continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Connect and Explore More

Visit the blog at www.leanblog.org. For feedback, email mark@leanblog.org. Access all past episodes, show notes, and more at www.leancast.org.

Subscribe to the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast today and join the journey toward Lean mastery and continuous improvement.

Business

Management

Started in 2006, the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast, hosted by Mark Graban, brings you conversations with leading experts, authors, and thought leaders in lean manufacturing and management. As a Lean practitioner, consultant, and author, Mark Graban offers deep insights, real-world experiences, and practical tips for implementing and enhancing Lean practices across various industries. The Podcast Experience Mark Graban engages his guests in a conversational format, covering a wide array of topics related to Lean. Guests come from diverse backgrounds, including healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries, sharing their unique experiences and perspectives on Lean implementation. Core Topics Lean Principles and History: Dive into the foundational aspects of Lean, its history, and core principles. Industry Applications: Explore how Lean is applied in different industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. Continuous Improvement: Learn about value stream mapping, process improvement, and culture change. Leadership and Management Systems: Gain insights into the Toyota Production System and related methodologies, focusing on Lean as a culture, philosophy, and management system rather than just a set of tools. Unique Features Focus on Healthcare: Mark Graban, a renowned advocate for Lean in healthcare, frequently features experts who discuss patient safety, quality improvement, and waste reduction in healthcare settings. Hear success stories and practical advice on implementing Lean in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations. Practical Advice and Real-World Examples: Guests share their experiences and insights into what works and what doesn’t in Lean implementation. Overcome common challenges and get inspired by success stories. Inclusivity and Diversity: The podcast features a range of guests from diverse backgrounds, enriching discussions and providing a comprehensive understanding of Lean’s challenges and opportunities. While we don’t talk much about Lean Six Sigma, we hope the podcast is helpful to you anyway. Why Listen? Whether you’re new to Lean or a seasoned practitioner, the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast is a valuable resource offering insights, tips, and inspiration for improving your organization’s performance and achieving Lean goals. With its engaging format, practical advice, and diverse range of guests, this podcast is essential for anyone interested in continuous improvement and operational excellence. Connect and Explore More Visit the blog at www.leanblog.org. For feedback, email mark@leanblog.org. Access all past episodes, show notes, and more at www.leancast.org. Subscribe to the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast today and join the journey toward Lean mastery and continuous improvement.

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