Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership

This week's guest is Jamie Dixon. Ron and Jamie talked all about the power of storytelling, and how it's done correctly. Jamie also specifically explained what the three ingredients of stories are.  An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The quote Jamie likes (2:30)

His background (3:34)

His passion for storytelling (6:12)

An example about a coffee company (8:59)

The role that personality or temperament plays (16:50)

Teaching someone storytelling (20:48)

The "What's Your Evening Story?" challenge (24:50)

The three ingredients of stories (29:30)

Why truth matters (38:07)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

The Power of Habit

Atomic Habits

Jamie's Website

Jamie on LinkedIn

The Story Habit

What Do You Think?

Share an example of when storytelling proved to be a powerful tool.

This week's guest is Kurt Neubek. Kurt explained how lean is used in the Design and Construction industries, and the differences between virtual and in-person dynamics. He and Ron also discussed navigating biases. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The quote Kurt likes (3:42)

His background (5:20)

How lean is applied in design and construction (9:14)

Using it in the community (13:05)

Virtual versus in-person work (27:06)

Making decisions that stick (28:20)

Dealing with bias (36:15)

His advice for getting started (42:01)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

GA 228 | How to Apply Lean to Architecture and Engineering

Kurt on LinkedIn

What Do You Think?

How would you go about getting decisions that stick?

This week's guest is Deondra Wardelle. Deondra, a keynote panelist at the upcoming AME Conference, talked to Ron about her consulting work and strategic visioning. They also discussed kata and the future of lean. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

Deondra's favorite quote (3:08)

Her background (3:52)

About the upcoming AME Conference (8:26)

The future of lean (13:44)

About Deondra's journey (21:18)

Her strategic visioning process (26:01)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

Deondra's Website

What Do You Think?

What are your thoughts on strategic visioning?

This week's guest is Tom Hughes. Ron and Tom discussed how culture and standards coexist in lean, and why it's so important to be candid. Tom also shared some great anecdotes and lean wisdom. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The quote Tom likes (3:31)

Tom's background and what he's up to these days (4:49)

What Tom means by standards (8:43)

Why "culture" and "standards" should go together (10:06)

Being candid (11:16)

A story about his first automotive job (19:30)

The role of "heart" in lean (21:39)

A story about Seating Matters (24:49)

Why you can't buy a lean culture (28:30)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

Improvement Starts With I

Improvement Starts With I on Audible (US)

Improvement Starts With I on Audible (UK)

GembaDocs

Tom on LinkedIn

Tom on YouTube

What Do You Think?Describe a time when it was important to be candid.

This week's guest is John Knotts. Ron and John talked all about data, how to approach it, and what tools John recommends. John also expanded on the concept of "being the rock."  An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

John's background (2:57)

His favorite quote (3:55)

The approach to data collection he recommends (5:50)

The type of data John is looking for (13:30)

Looking at trended data (14:59)

Determining the type of data you're dealing with (17:13)

How John handles outliers (20:05)

The tools that stand out to John (23:28)

What John doesn't teach (28:18)

An anecdote from one of his LinkedIn posts (36:25)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

John on LinkedIn

"Be the Rock" Post

What Do You Think?

What is your relationship to data like? How has it been beneficial?

This week's guest is Brent Weichers. Brent explained how his organization has made real changes to improve the lives of the employees. He also shared what he'll be presenting at this year's AME conference. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The quote Brent likes (3:28)

His background (6:23)

Their approach with metrics and measurements (8:28)

How they measure what's working (13:57)

How they rolled out what they learned using pillars (15:10)

What "winning" would look like (21:46)

About heat mapping and Brent's breakout session at AME (26:54)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

Brent on LinkedIn

What Do You Think?

How do you use metrics to track your improvements and make decisions?

This week's guest is Steve Kane. Ron and Steve discussed the benefits and challenges of virtual training. Steve also explained the trends in virtual training he's observed recently. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The quote that inspires Steve (2:25)

Steve's background (3:39)

What virtual training means (5:02)

The trends he's been seeing (6:31)

How he's adapted to virtual training (10:58)

What he's learned about the activities (13:53)

Practical tips for virtual training (18:20)

Where he sees virtual training going (24:59)

What Gemba Academy offers (29:42)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

Steve on LinkedIn

What Do You Think?

What has your experience been with virtual training?

This week's guest is Thomas Bertels. Ron and Thomas discussed how Thomas got into work design, how it relates to lean, and why intrinsic motivation is so critical. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The quote Thomas likes (1:54)

His background (2:52)

How he got into work design (4:07)

The link between work design and lean (5:34)

Approaching work design (9:03)

What happens when the culture isn't there (11:19)

What intrinsic motivation entails (13:09)

When to do work design (17:12)

How work design has benefited his personal life (18:42)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

Mojo Diagnostic

Purpose Works

What Do You Think?

How do you use and/or benefit from intrinsic motivation at work?

This week's guest is Wendy Posillico. Ron and Wendy discussed her golf career, her company Live Your June, and the role of ethos and pathos in leadership. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

Wendy's favorite quote (2:20)

Her background (3:38)

Whether she was good at golf at first (5:40)

The defining moment (8:26)

About her company Live Your June (11:49)

A leadership example (16:48)

The role of ethos (18:30)

The role of pathos (21:42)

Being an intentional leader (24:08)

Practical advice from an athlete's perspective (28:32)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

Wendy on Instagram

Wendy on LinkedIn

Live Your June Website

Live Your June on Instagram

What Do You Think?

What does intentional leadership mean to you?

This week's guest is Ron Pereira. Ron talked about our TPM, or Total Productive Maintenance, content, and then shared a previous episode on TPM by Balaji Chandrasekar. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you'll learn: 

The improvements our content development team has made this year (0:28)

About our TPM courses (1:25)

Introduction to TPM (4:57)

The Eight TPM Pillars 6:54)

The benefits of practicing TPM (7:34)

Approaching TPM (9:09)

Measuring TPM Effectiveness (10:54)

Perspectives for setting TPM goals (13:09)

How TPM reduces costs (14:33)

The quote Balaji wants to share (17:24)

His background (18:35)

A high-level overview of TPM (19:31)

Some of the challenges he sees people face (21:39)

His experience with each of the TPM Pillars (23:11)

The challenges unique to TPM (24:42)

A brief overview of all eight pillars  (27:21)

About OEE, including tracking it (33:09)

Measuring TPM maturity (36:53)

Balaji's parting thoughts (39:41)

Podcast Resources

Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3

AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off

GA 313 | The Eight Pillars of TPM with Balaji Chandrasekar

Balaji on LinkedIn

What Do You Think?

What has your experience with TPM been like?