Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond

Mistake-proofing expert Martin Hinckley, president of Assured Quality and author of "Make No Mistake: An Outcome-Based Approach to Mistake-Proofing," joins Mark to discuss why rare mistakes require a fundamentally different approach than statistical variation -- and why traditional inspection can never fully control them.

Episode page with links and more http://leanblog.org/42 

They cover the difference between mistakes and variation, why Six Sigma alone couldn't get defect rates where companies like Motorola and GE Aircraft Engines wanted them, the real meaning of poka-yoke, and why effective mistake-proofing always makes the work easier rather than more complex.

Re-mastered audio, April 2026

Episode page

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #41 with Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Liker is most recently the co-author (with Michael Hoseus) of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and many other books, which can be found here on Amazon.com. This is part 3 of our recent series. Today, we talk about the development of managers within a Lean organization.

For earlier episodes, visit the main Podcast page, which includes information on how to subscribe via RSS or via Apple Podcasts.

LeanBlog Podcast #41 Key Points & Links

• From a listener: Many companies shift managers around almost constantly. How does Toyota develop their managers in a way that helps encourage “respect for people?”

Episode page: leanblog.org/40

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #40, an interview with a retired UAW/GM employee who wishes to remain anonymous, at this point. We have traded many emails over the past year, about Lean, and I'm impressed with this individual's true passion for Lean and Toyota Production System concepts.

We both agree that the “root cause” of many Lean struggles comes back to management's inability to create trust and to give up some control to the employees who actually do the work.

The intent here, from my perspective, is not “management bashing,” but rather to illustrate that there are some on the UAW side who “get it” and success is going to require true cooperation and sacrifices on both sides.

LeanBlog Podcast #40 Key Points & Key Words

• “Quality Network” – GM and the UAW

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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #39, once again featuring Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Liker is most recently the co-author (with Michael Hoseus) of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and many other books, which can be found here on amazon.com.

This is part 2 of what will be a 3-part podcast series, so be sure to check back. Today, we talk about some of the challenges that organizations face in trying to adopt a Lean Culture.

Click for the entire series with Prof. Liker.

For earlier episodes, visit the main Podcast page, which includes information on how to subscribe via RSS or via Apple Podcasts.

LeanBlog Podcast #39 Key Points & Links

• Will Dr. Liker be writing more about companies who have gone through the Lean culture transformation, examples other than Toyota, ala his earlier book, Becoming Lean: Inside Stories of U.S. Manufacturers?

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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #38, our guest today is Bob Emiliani, the author of Practical Lean Leadership: A Strategic Leadership Guide For Executives. It's a workbook-style guide that forces you to think through your own leadership approach and your own situation.

In this podcast, we talk about “lean leadership,” “value added behaviors,” and some pitfalls to avoid in lean implementations.

LeanBlog Podcast #38 Key Points & Key Words

• How Bob first got involved with Lean and, especially, the leadership component.

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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #37, once again featuring Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Liker is most recently the co-author (with Michael Hoseus) of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and many other books, which can be found here on amazon.com. This is part 1 of what will be a 3-part podcast series. Listen to part 2 and part 3.

For earlier episodes, visit the main Podcast page, which includes information on how to subscribe via RSS or via Apple Podcasts.

• Overview of the book, how it builds on the previous books.