Step onto the field with host Dan Swartwout as he explores a new playbook for improvement. In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan tells the story of the fictional Columbus Tigers, a football team that turns around its losing streak using Lean Six Sigma. (There actually was a Columbus Tigers pro football team about a century ago!)

Football is familiar territory for many, and this episode uses the game as a fresh lens for understanding process improvement. Dan breaks down Lean Six Sigma concepts in plain language and shows how tools like process maps and dashboards can drive real change. The action on the field becomes a guide for tackling challenges in any organization.

See how the strategies behind winning games translate to smarter teamwork, fewer errors, and better results everywhere. Lean Six Sigma steps out of the factory and onto the gridiron, making continuous improvement accessible, practical, and a little more exciting.

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:32 - Introducing the Tigers

4:05 - Lean Six Sigma defined

5:59 - The DMAIC framework, starting with Define

7:38 - Measure

9:21 - Analyze

12:29 - Improve

14:51 - Control

16:16 - The results

17:31 - Recapping the Lean Six Sigma tools used by the Tigers

21:42 - The purpose of this episode

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On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dr. Jim Cole joins the podcast to share how process improvement has guided his work in both military and healthcare settings. Dr. Cole introduces tools like the Marine Corps Planning Process, OODA loops, and operational risk management. Jim shares how these military methods helped him tackle challenges in civilian healthcare. To that end, Dr. Cole reflects on creating efficient systems for bed availability and managing variation to establish standard work. This conversation highlights how practical tools and strong leadership can transform even the toughest situations into opportunities for improvement. Plus, for you music fans, there are references to AC/DC, Cheap Trick, and Stray Cats!

In this episode, you will hear about:

2:41 - Jim's background in the military and medicine

4:39 - Growing up in Suburban Chicago

7:05 - College, the military, and medical school

7:53 - The Navy Seals

10:52 - Process Improvement and  Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer Training

15:28 - The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act

16:45 - Operational Risk Management

19:57 - Using military training in Process Improvement for civilian healthcare

24:02 - Addressing hospital bed availability

29:17 - Introducing Process Improvement to an initially reluctant team

31:33 - Variation and Standard Work

34:07 - Reviewing the data and performance metrics

35:59 - Keys to leadership

38:17 - Depictions of surgery in movies and TV

41:21 - From chaos to order

Additional Resources:

Trauma: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon

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Dr. Jim Cole at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

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On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout talks with Mark Reich. Mark is Senior Lean Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute and author of the new book, Managing On Purpose. Mark’s book is a practical guide to Hoshin Kanri, a strategy deployment system that combines long-term vision with day-to-day execution. Managing On Purpose features step-by-step tools and a detailed case study to help organizations align strategy with action while developing their leaders.

Mark shares stories from his career, including his time managing Toyota’s corporate strategic planning for North America. He explains how tools like “catchball” and “obeya” help organizations foster collaboration and track progress effectively. Mark also emphasizes the importance of leadership behaviors in creating a culture where problems are opportunities for growth.

This episode is packed with insights on strategy deployment, leadership development, and creating purpose-driven organizations. Don’t miss this fun, informative conversation with one of Lean's most experienced practitioners.

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:48 - Mark’s background

5:34 - Working for Toyota in Japan

7:28 - The  Toyota Supplier Support Center (now the  Toyota Production Systems Support Center)

9:49 - Writing Managing on Purpose

12:40 - An introduction to Hoshin Kanri

18:04 - PDCA (Plan. Do. Check. Act.)

20:43 - Understanding problems at the Gemba

24:11 - The concept of Obeya

28:48 - The concept of Catchball

34:04 - Value-creating work versus non-value-creating work

37:34 - Hoshin Kanri and leadership

40:10 - Initial feedback to Managing on Purpose

42:30 - The changing business environment

46:02 - The opportunity for everybody to innovate

49:02 - Mark’s next project

Additional Resources:

Order Managing on Purpose

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Mark Reich at the Lean Enterprise Institute

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In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout chats with Kim Koning, Aurorium's Global Director of Operational Excellence and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Kim shares his journey from wrestling mats in Indiana to leading global process improvement initiatives. He also reflects on how lessons from his early career as a plant manager and his MBA in finance shaped his approach to leadership and continuous improvement.

Kim shares why Gemba walks are his favorite part of the day and how they help build trust on the shop floor. Another standout moment is when Kim recounts his “aha” realization—the day he saw Lean Six Sigma as the key to staying competitive. At home, Kim’s audience of eight might roll their eyes at his continuous improvement experiments. But on Quality Time with MoreSteam, his experiments find a much bigger audience.

In this episode, you will hear about:

2:00 - Kim’s background

2:52 - Wrestling with continuous improvement

4:36 - Going to Purdue

5:45 - Plant management

7:24 - Gemba walks

9:27 - Statistics and probability

11:24 - Kim’s thoughts on Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence

20:44 - The Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference

23:36 - The Master Black Belt challenge

26:23 - Kim’s “aha!” moment

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We’re throwing a party for the big 2-5! MoreSteam is turning 25, and what better way to celebrate than with the 25th episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam! This special episode takes you on a journey through 25 standout moments from the podcast.

Host Dan Swartwout revisits some of the most interesting, surprising, and entertaining highlights from past episodes. From creative uses of Lean Six Sigma to moments that made us laugh (or think twice), this collection captures everything we love about continuous improvement—and then some.

It’s a greatest-hits celebration packed with sharp takes, unexpected twists, and plenty of reasons to celebrate 25 years of making things better. Cheers to MoreSteam! 

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:11 - Peg Pennington

2:01 - Rich “Raz” Razgaitis

2:37 - Alan Payne

3:25 - Shawn Washburn

4:09 - Alan Goodman

4:53 - Ken Robinette

5:41 - Emmanuel Aouad (“Gemba Walk”)

7:30 - Omar Mora

8:11 - Karina Kretz

9:00 - Maria Fry

10:05 - Generative AI and Process Improvement

11:27 - MoreSteam’s Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference

13:00 - Brian Bross

14:14 - Dino Tripodis

15:22 - Kevin Keller

16:25 - Peter Ward

17:37 - Meredith Brody

18:46 - Getting in the Holiday Spirit

19:38 - Ryan Weiss

24:13 - Thomas Paider

26:23 - Chris Spranger

27:37 - Bill Hathaway

29:09 - Writing Jokes with Generative AI

32:54 - The 25th Moment

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MoreSteam is celebrating 25 years of process improvement! In this episode, MoreSteam founder and CEO Bill Hathaway joins the show to talk about all the milestones, mistakes, and defining moments. Bill shares stories from his early days in manufacturing, including a memorable encounter with instrument panels that didn’t quite fit (spoiler: kicking them wasn’t the best solution). He also talks about the leap from corporate life to starting MoreSteam, how the company got its unique name, and what it was like running the business out of his home—with his dog as VP of Security.

The conversation covers lessons in leadership, the evolution of process improvement, and why unglamorous work is often the most important. Bill also reflects on the future of MoreSteam and the role of technology, like generative AI, in solving tomorrow’s problems. Join us for a candid discussion about the past, present, and future of Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence, and continuous improvement at MoreSteam.

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:59 - Bill’s First Experiences with Quality and Process Improvement

5:36 - The Beginning of MoreSteam

10:49 - The Name of the Company

13:36 - The Challenges of Running a Business Out of Your Home

15:17 - Moving Into MoreSteam’s First Office

18:10 - Mistakes Along the Way

22:53 - From Content to Software: EngineRoom

25:10 - Bill’s Secret to Leadership

28:06 - Connecting to MoreSteam’s Mission

30:12 - In Praise of Unglamorous Activities

31:26 - The Future of MoreSteam

35:50 - The Team Sport of Continuous Improvement

Additional Resources:

Bill Hathaway on LinkedIn

In Praise of Unglamorous Activities

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Chris Spranger’s Lean Six Sigma journey began unexpectedly during a co-op at a firetruck manufacturer. Initially uninterested in quality work, he soon became fascinated by tracking production data and solving shop-floor problems. A mouse pad from his boss featuring 'ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt' and a Christmas gift request for Lean Six Sigma by Michael George sealed the deal—Chris was hooked.

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Chris chats with Dan about how he has applied Lean tools across industries like healthcare, aerospace, and public service. He shares insights on adapting methodologies to different organizational needs, engaging stakeholders effectively, and why soft skills are critical for success. Chris also explores Measurement System Analysis (MSA), explaining how it ensures reliable data collection and highlights inconsistencies in processes. 

It’s all about making work easier and more effective! Tune in to hear why Chris believes improving processes isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about creating better days at work for everyone involved.

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:45 - How a firetruck factory introduced Chris to Lean Six Sigma

3:45 - The role of a mouse pad and a book in shaping his career path

6:26 - Applying Lean tools across diverse industries

9:14 - Common misconceptions about Lean Six Sigma

13:11 - Why communication and people skills are key to success

19:22 - People skills: the art and the science of Lean Six Sigma

20:49 - How MSA ensures consistent and reliable measurements

24:11 - Detecting inconsistencies with MSA

Additional Resources:

Chris Spranger on LinkedIn

Spranger Business Solutions

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In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Thomas Paider joins the show. Tom is the co-author of The Lean IT Field Guide: A Roadmap for Your Transformation. He is also the Vice President for Technology Infrastructure and Computing at Nationwide and a member of the Board of Directors of the Lean Enterprise Institute. This is a phenomenal conversation. According to our host Dan Swartwout, this episode contains some of the most profound thoughts on Lean in the history of the podcast.

Tom makes complex ideas about Lean and Agile approachable and engaging. If you’re interested in how Lean principles can reshape IT and create thriving workplace cultures, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:33 - Tom's Background

4:50 - Working on Y2K

6:27 - Key Messages from  the Lean It Field Guide

8:25 - The Operational Definition of IT

10:02 - The First Steps in a Lean IT Journey

13:56 - Misconceptions About Lean in the Technology Space

16:22 - Moving People to More Valuable Activities

18:55 - Agile in IT

22:25 - The Early Days of the Lean IT Transformation at Nationwide

24:29 - Advice for IT Teams Starting Their Lean Journeys

27:08 - Learning from Other Industries

29:41 - Overcoming Resistance

32:12 - Lean, Agile, and DevOps

36:35 - Tom's Proudest Moments at Nationwide

38:17 - Peyton Manning

39:19 - The Future of Lean Technology

42:36 - Tom's Experiences as a Runner

Additional Resources:

Thomas Paider on LinkedIn

The Lean IT Field Guide: A Roadmap for Your Transformation

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In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Ryan C. Weiss joins the program. Ryan is an author, entrepreneur, and president of Effective Performance Strategies. He also tells one of the best stories about continuous improvement. That story involves tools, skills, mindset, and an orangutan. (Yes, an orangutan.) You won’t want to miss it.

In addition to that great story, Ryan and host Dan Swartwout talk about the power of the SIPOC, eliminating bad handoffs, and the importance of parallel paths. Maybe you already have the tools. You might already have the skills. But without a doubt, this conversation with Ryan C. Weiss will put you in the right mindset for operational excellence!

In this episode, you will hear about:

0:48 - Ryan's Background

3:35 - Ryan's Experiences in College

11:12 - Ryan Path Changes From Medicine to Finance

16:05 - From the Corporate World to Entrepreneur

18:36 - The Fitbit Story

22:27 - The Orangutan Story

29:40 - Dale Carnegie and Continuous Improvement

31:49 - Building SIPOCs

33:49 - Broken Handoffs

37:05 - Getting People Involved in Processes

39:51 - SIPOC-Focused Software

42:31 - Ryan's Podcast

Additional Resources:

Ryan C. Weiss on LinkedIn

Optics: Align People and Process to Accelerate Performance

Optics in Action Podcast

Effective Performance Strategies

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This isn’t your typical Quality Time with MoreSteam! To celebrate the season, we’re bringing you a festive treat — a Lean Six Sigma-inspired version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Packed with value streams, Gemba walks, and continuous improvement cheer, this playful adaptation blends holiday magic with the principles of operational excellence.

Pause for a moment to recharge, reflect, and enjoy a fun story that blends the holiday spirit with a touch of improvement inspiration. Here’s to a new year filled with fresh ideas, smoother processes, and plenty of opportunities to grow.

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