The Current

What do continuous improvement, Lean Six Sigma, and artificial intelligence have in common? They’re all converging at Process Palooza 2025—and this episode of The Process Palooza Podcast gives you a front-row preview!

Join host Todd Andersen for a lively look at what’s ahead for this year’s event, happening August 6–7 at UC San Diego. Special guests include Mojgan Amini, one of the event’s founders and a leader in LSS at UC San Diego, and Tina Austin, an AI expert, educator, and first-time speaker at the event. You’ll hear how continuous improvement mindsets are evolving with emerging technologies—and why this year’s theme of AI + CI is more relevant than ever.

Plus, UC San Diego CIO Vince Kellen invites you to join the Process Palooza movement!

Whether you're a returning Process Palooza fan or curious about attending for the first time, this episode delivers the insights—and inspiration—you need to make the most of PP25!

In this episode, we discuss an exciting offering at UC San Diego's Office of Strategic Initiatives: a new webinar series to foster conversations about continuous improvement, artificial intelligence, and more. Joining us is Laura De La Peña, who previews the upcoming webinar 'Lean Six Sigma vs. Artificial Intelligence.' We explore how Lean Six Sigma and AI can complement each other's strengths and weaknesses in process improvement. You can join the April 24th webinar and get insights on how these methodologies can enhance efficiency and effectiveness in both academia and industry. Simply email [email protected]!

Also, Don't forget to register for Process Palooza 2025 at UC San Diego on August 6-7! Head to processpalooza.ucsd.edu for more information!

00:00 Welcome to Process Palooza Podcast

01:03 Introducing Triton GPT and OSI's Role

02:20 Upcoming AI Essentials Webinar

03:44 Interview with Laura Dela Pena

05:25 Lean Six Sigma vs. AI: A Deep Dive

07:57 The Future of AI and Process Improvement

15:06 Triton GPT: Development and Training

24:31 Public Access and Benefits of Webinars

25:56 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

What makes Lean Six Sigma such a powerful methodology for improving processes and driving efficiency? In this episode, I sit down with seasoned Black Belt instructor Jim Athon to uncover the real impact of these techniques. We discuss the key principles, common challenges, and why mastering Lean Six Sigma is essential for organizations striving for excellence. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this conversation delivers expert insights you won’t want to miss.

This episode of the Process Palooza podcast takes listeners on a journey through the lively and bustling Process Palooza 2024 event, held at UC San Diego. With over 660 registered attendees, the event is a hub for innovators and leaders in business and education. Hosted at UC San Diego, the event champions the idea of continuous improvement with a lean Six Sigma mindset. With engaging sessions, speeches, and even interactive challenges, this episode captures the essence of a movement dedicated to continuous improvement and compassion in the workplace and beyond.

This is a not-to-be missed show, filling your brain with the best thinkers in process improvement!

We decided it was time to bring AI back into the discussion for this month's episode of the Process Palooza Podcast. To help us do that, we have invited Jon Wade, a professor of practice at the Jacobs School of Engineering. Dr. Wade specializes in systems engineering, a goldmine field for process improvement information. What we are really interested in, though, is his work in mining that field for the world's largest and most complex system: human society.

Topics Mentioned:

1. An introduction to Dr. Jon Wade and his background

2. A world changed by a pandemic

3. Human Society as Systems (and types of systems)

4. How philosophies can evolve over time

5. Building connection and accepting when something can't be changed

6. Knowing what to measure when improving systems

7. Experience with continuous improvement

8. What is systems engineering?

9. Real world examples of systems engineering (for good or ill)

10. Societal impacts of technologies

11. Ethical implications of AI

12. Potential and promise of AI

13. The OODA Loop, or how large organizations can make decisions quickly

14. The power of the open source movement

15. Reaching the public

Donella Meadows and Leverage Points:

https://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/

A closer look at the OODA Loop: https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/computer-science/the-ooda-loop

My own book recommendation about building connections and empathy: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/550616/the-war-for-kindness-by-jamil-zaki/

Join hosts Miguel Rodriguez and Paul Krueger as they deconstruct a major process improvement project currently in the works using the Lean Six Sigma methodology. Ideas and strategies shared in earlier episodes will be applied to an authentic and current implementation!

This is a not-to-be missed show, filling your brain with the best thinkers in process improvement!

Transcript w/ timestamps: https://bit.ly/4eTwW8a

Are you thinking of adopting a continuous improvement strategy for your organization? Maybe your organization is implementing one that will affect you. Thus far on this podcast, we have looked at continuous improvement within the contexts of AI and leadership. In this episode, we are going to focus on some of the direct methodologies, in this case Lean Six Sigma, and discuss some of the ways UC San Diego - a massive institution of higher learning and world-class research - has imbued the work culture with a continuous improvement mindset.

Special guests include Senior Strategic Programs Manager and LSS Black Belt Tony Nava, and recent Green Belt recipients Emily Viney, Melanie Crane, Vanessa Yang and Sarah Vogel Harper.

This is a not-to-be missed show, filling your brain with the best thinkers in process improvement!

Transcript w/ timestamps: https://bit.ly/3wNL2qs

Paul Krueger is back to guide us on another technological trip through time with "This Month in Tech History."

For May, Paul is delving into the history of the first programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer: ENIAC.

Transcript w/ timestamps: https://bit.ly/4b3vPjM

Cloud Engineer Nick Marangella joins the pod to discuss:

• How he started with ACT at UC San Diego

• Working on cloud infrastructure with AWS

• Participating in GeekMasters

• His love of live music & other extracurricular activities

Transcript w/ timestamps: https://bit.ly/49Uh7tU

Ep. 2: The Role of Leadership in Building a Continuous Improvement Culture

Building a culture of continuous improvement starts with a singular vision. But where does that vision come from? In this episode, we will explore the role of leadership in directing and modeling major large scale changes and helping employees and stakeholders succeed and grow!

Special guests include UC San Diego CIO Vince Kellen, Business Improvement Consultant Stephen Yorkstone, and Tracy O'Rourke, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Co-Founder of the Just-in-Time Cafe community and podcast.

This is a not-to-be missed show, filling your brain with the best thinkers in process improvement!

Show notes:

• Just-in-Time Cafe website: https://www.jitcafe.com/

Transcript w/ timestamps: https://bit.ly/4cY0RLf