Here's a musical holiday treat for my regular Lean Blog readers and podcast listeners, a song parody, originally released in 2009... remastered a bit in 2022.

https://www.leanblog.org/2022/12/gemba-claus-comin-town-song/ 

Lyrics by Mark Graban

Oh, you'd better watch out

He's making a list

He sees you when you're waitin'

Oh, you'd watch out

For voiceover work, music, or more, you can contact Steve via his website, www.stevesholtes.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Welcome to this bonus session of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast, originally recorded as a LinkedIn Live event! In this conversation, I partnered with Rebecca Michalik from AME Australia to discuss my upcoming workshops in Australia and New Zealand in March 2025.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

We’ll dive into key themes like psychological safety as a foundation for continuous improvement and how to make smarter use of performance metrics through process behavior charts. Even if you’re outside Australia or New Zealand, the principles and practical examples we discuss have universal applications for leaders and organizations worldwide.

If you're interested in learning more about the workshops, click here.

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #521 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is  José R. Ferro, PhD, a Senior Advisor with the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Founder and President, Lean Institute Brasil.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

By founding Lean Institute Brasil in 1999 to disseminate the principles and practices of lean thinking to Brazilian companies, Ferro helped catalyze a global movement to establish lean institutes in other countries, which ultimately grew into the Lean Global Network, chartered in 2007.

In the late eighties, he was a visiting scholar in MIT’s International Motor Vehicle Research Program (IMVP), which introduced the term “lean” to describe Toyota’s revolutionary management system.

Ferro received PhD and master’s degrees in business administration, Getulio Vargas Foundation, and production engineering from the University of São Paulo in São Carlos.

His new book, Daily Management to Execute Strategy: Solving problems and developing people every day, is available now.

In today's episode, José will share practical insights on how to integrate daily management with strategy, the critical role of psychological safety in fostering problem-solving and improvement, and lessons learned from decades of leadership and Lean practice.

So, stay tuned for an engaging conversation about Lean, leadership, and creating cultures that thrive on continuous learning and improvement!

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #520 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bill Remy, CEO of TBM Consulting. 

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

Bill is both an accomplished business executive and leader who is frequently called upon for his credible voice, honesty, and pragmatism — and for his ability to leverage operational excellence and continuous improvement for long-term profitable growth. 

As former president of Thayer Aerospace, Bill doubled revenue in six years, expanded into Mexico, improved profitability, and increased inventory turns. He integrated the supply chain into a web-based pull system, consolidated divisions, and implemented an ERP system. 

Earlier in his career, Bill held progressively responsible roles in operations, including Vice President of Continuous Improvement at Invensys, Vice President of Operations at Learjet/Bombardier, Production Manager at Lockheed Arizona Missile Facility, and Materials Manager at Allied-Signal Aerospace.

Bill holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Pancon Corporation and on the Oklahoma State University /deans Advisory Board for the College of Engineering. He has over 25 years of leadership experience in general management and manufacturing operations.

In this episode, we discuss the transformative power of Lean leadership and operational excellence. Bill shares insights from his extensive career, including how he first encountered Lean principles at Allied Signal and the dramatic improvements achieved through lead time reduction and flow.

We explore the critical role of communication and employee involvement in overcoming resistance to change, the deep connection between safety and quality, and the importance of leadership in both driving transformation and sustaining long-term improvement.

Bill outlines TBM’s four-phase framework for turning around operations, emphasizing the need for a holistic evaluation of people, processes, and performance metrics. Finally, we reflect on how organizations can leverage Lean as a strategic advantage to drive growth and profitability while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #519 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jarvis Gray, the Managing Director of The Quality Coaching Co. He offers more than 16 years of strategic planning, quality improvement, and operations leadership experience in the healthcare industry. 

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

Through his firm, The Quality Coaching Co., Jarvis and his associates help healthcare organizations foster cultures of system-wide quality improvement by offering customized Lean Six Sigma coaching, training, and certification programs centered on improving the quality of their care delivery services and health outcomes, eliminating waste and achieving cost reductions, and enhancing the patient experience.

He's the host of the Excellence in Healthcare podcast (where I have been a guest). His new book is MASTERING HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE: A Leader’s Guide to Getting World-Class Results by Aligning People, Priorities, and Processes.

In this episode, we explored how to build a sustainable culture of excellence in healthcare by aligning people, priorities, and processes. We discussed the importance of integrating Lean Six Sigma principles with data-driven decision-making to improve patient outcomes and streamline operations.

Jarvis shared insights on establishing frameworks for healthcare excellence, including data cataloging and dashboarding, to track and leverage key metrics. We also delved into the evolving roles within healthcare quality improvement, the lessons learned from working closely with healthcare professionals, and the unique challenges of managing patient-centered processes. Lastly, we touched on his experience as a business owner, applying continuous improvement to his own consulting practice and the value of disciplined operations in achieving long-term success.

• What’s your origin story with quality, Lean Six Sigma, and healthcare?

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #518 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jerry Wright, author of the new book The Insanity Trap: What Your MRP Consultant Won't Tell You.

Jerry M. Wright, PE, MBA, is an accomplished operations executive and teaching professional with over 39 years of experience in the manufacturing and service sectors. 

His extensive career spans various industries, including aerospace, consumer goods, healthcare, medical devices, diagnostics, and industrial sectors, where he has held leadership roles in engineering, operations, quality assurance, and operational excellence (OpEx). 

He is an expert on taking businesses from MRP "insanity" to Pull Systems (Kanban) and driving operational excellence through the implementation of Toyota Production Systems (TPS/Lean) tools and methods.

He's a Master Black Belt and only the 7th person in the world to receive the Lean Gold Certification (LGC) from the joint alliance of ASQ, AME, SME, and the Shingo Institute.

In this episode, Jerry shares his insights and hard-earned lessons about the pitfalls and inefficiencies of Material Requirements Planning (MRP). Jerry reflects on his career, starting with his early Lean experiences at Kimberly Clark, where he encountered the challenges of forecasting, production scheduling, and the recurring "insanity trap" of MRP. He discusses the implementation of Kanban systems, the impact on inventory management, and how turning off MRP systems helped teams dramatically reduce shortages and excess inventory.

Through real-life examples, Jerry illustrates how companies can shift from traditional MRP-driven processes to more effective demand-driven and Kanban-based systems, leading to operational improvements, better employee engagement, and more reliable supply chains. The episode also touches on the psychology of change management, navigating the resistance from those invested in outdated systems, and how leadership can foster a more adaptive, efficient environment by embracing simplicity over complexity.

• What is your Lean origin story?

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for this bonus episode of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bruce Hamilton, who is joining me on the show for the first time. Bruce is a renowned figure in the Lean world, serving as the President of GBMP Consulting Group and Director Emeritus for the Shingo Institute.

As a senior examiner and certified workshop facilitator for the Shingo Prize, Bruce brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is also a past recipient of the Shingo Prize in both business and academic categories and has been inducted into both the Shingo Academy and the AME Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

During our conversation, Bruce reflects on two major milestones: the 25th anniversary of the now-classic "Toast Kaizen" video and the 20th year of GBMP's Northeast Lean Conference. He shares the humble beginnings of "Toast Kaizen," filmed in his kitchen with the help of his two-month-old son, and its unexpected success. We also discuss the evolution of the Northeast Lean Conference, from its modest start to an event that now attracts Lean thinkers from across the country. Bruce talks about the upcoming conference theme, “Leveraging Lean to Thrive,” and how Lean principles can help organizations overcome uncertainty, especially in today’s challenging times.

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #517 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jacob Stoller, a journalist, speaker, facilitator, and Shingo-Prize-winning author of The Lean CEO. We talked about that in Episode 221.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

His latest book, Productivity Reimagined: Shattering Performance Myths to Achieve Sustainable Growth, was just released by Wiley on October 8th, 2024. 

Jacob has published hundreds of articles on technology and business management methods, and is known for demystifying complex topics for general business audiences. Jacob has delivered a variety of keynote speeches and learning events workshops in Canada, Europe, and the US, and authored reports, created training materials, and strategic corporate documents for clients such as Microsoft, Dell Computer, Staples, Pitney Bowes, International Data Corporation (IDC), CMA Canada, and the Conference Board of Canada.

In this episode, the discussion focuses on debunking common myths about productivity and exploring how sustainable growth can be achieved by improving operational efficiency without sacrificing quality. Jacob emphasizes the importance of lean thinking and continuous improvement, noting that productivity gains should come from enhancing processes, not just relying on technology or financial measures. We also highlight the critical role of people and culture in driving lasting improvements and discuss how true productivity involves creating more value with the same or fewer resources, aligning with lean principles.

• What have you been up to since The Lean CEO?

• Productivity myths and misconceptions

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

In this episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban welcomes Roberto Priolo, the Managing Editor of Planet Lean, the publication of the Lean Global Network. Based in Barcelona, Roberto has a background in journalism and extensive experience in covering Lean and continuous improvement topics. Mark and Roberto discuss the upcoming Lean Global Connection event, happening on November 21st and 22nd, 2024, which is a free, 24-hour virtual event designed to bring together the global Lean community.

Episode page with transcript, video, and more

• The Origins of the Lean Global Connection Event: Roberto explains how the event began during the pandemic as a way to connect Lean practitioners worldwide when in-person gatherings were impossible. Now in its fourth year, the event continues to thrive, attracting speakers and attendees from over 120 countries.

• The Event Format: The Lean Global Connection is designed as a global festival of Lean thinking, running for 24 hours straight, with two stages running simultaneously. Attendees can join at any time and catch up later with recorded sessions available on the Lean Global Network YouTube channel.

Register for the free Lean Global Connection event here. Mark your calendar for November 21st and 22nd, and be sure to check out previous years’ presentations on the Lean Global Network YouTube channel for a taste of what’s to come.

• Planet Lean website: Link to Planet Lean

Tune in for this exciting conversation with Roberto Priolo to learn more about how the Lean Global Connection continues to bring the world’s Lean community together and what to expect in this year’s event.

My guest for Episode #516 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jenn Christison, founder and principal consultant at Seven Ways Consulting.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

Jenn has spent more than 15 years leading continuous improvement efforts across a variety of industries, including aerospace manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, pharma, and tech. Guided by the principles of Respect for People and Continuous Improvement, Jenn brings a wealth of experience to her work, helping organizations achieve meaningful transformation.

Jenn’s journey began with a desire to change the world as a teacher, social worker, or stand-up comedian. discovered my biggest impact could be made leading organizational transformation.

Jenn is also the author of the new book Even Better Leadership: Provocative Reflections to Guide Improvement and continues to embrace her stand-up comedy roots — if you know where to look. We’re thrilled to have her on the show today to share her insights and experiences.

In this episode, Jenn shares her journey from aerospace and defense at Boeing to leading Lean and continuous improvement efforts in healthcare and beyond. We discuss Jenn's Lean origin story, how her early experiences as a teacher, social worker, and stand-up comedian influenced her approach to leadership and transformation, and the lessons she’s learned from working in various industries. Jenn also talks about her new book, Even Better Leadership: Provocative Reflections to Guide Improvement, and the iterative process behind its creation. Additionally, we explore the challenges of applying Lean in healthcare and the importance of prioritizing quality and respect for people in organizational improvement.

• Can you tell us your Lean origin story?

What insights did you gain from working in various industries that you apply to leadership and improvement today?

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.