In this discussion, Brian DeVries, a continuous improvement leader, shares insights from his 13-plus years in driving lean strategies. He introduces the Kaizen Kit, a hands-on toolkit designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Brian emphasizes the importance of interactive learning over traditional PowerPoint methods and reveals how storytelling can inspire young minds through his children’s book. Additionally, he explains the power of gamification in training, aiming to engage teams and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
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Make Lean Training Hands-On
Use hands-on, interactive learning mixed with classroom time and minimal slides to engage all learning styles.
Getting learners out of their seats and applying concepts makes training more effective and enjoyable.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Poor Training Experience Story
Brian DeVries shared a poor training experience in a loud, windowless room with ineffective slides and an unprepared instructor.
This highlighted what not to do and reinforced the importance of engaging, well-prepared environments.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Lean Learning Through Experience
Brian’s journey began by chance as a manufacturing supervisor overwhelmed by chaos and transformed by lean tools into a problem-solver and people developer.
He emphasizes learning lean by doing, not just from books or lectures.
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In this classic children's book, Harold, a curious four-year-old boy, decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. With his magic purple crayon, he draws a moon, a path, and various landscapes to navigate through his adventure. Harold encounters a dragon, sails across waters, enjoys a picnic of nine flavors of pies, and even flies in a hot-air balloon. Eventually, tired and seeking his bedroom window, Harold draws his way back home and to bed. The book celebrates the power of imagination and creativity.
The Lorax
Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
The Lorax is a story about the Once-ler, a businessman who arrives in a flourishing forest of Truffula trees and begins to chop them down to build a garment called a Thneed. Despite the protests of the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, the Once-ler continues his destructive activities, leading to the devastation of the environment and the displacement of the wildlife. The story highlights the consequences of unchecked industrialization and the importance of environmental conservation. The book concludes with a message of hope, as the Once-ler passes on the last Truffula tree seed to a young boy, encouraging him to restore the forest and bring back the Lorax and his friends.
What You’ll Learn: Are you learning about improvement or actually doing it?
In this episode, host Patrick Adams is joined by continuous improvement leader Brian DeVries to dig into the power of hands-on learning and why lectures alone just don’t cut it. From the shop floor to the boardroom, real growth happens when you roll up your sleeves and apply what you’ve heard. Whether you're training teams or leveling up your own skills, tune in to discover how action-based learning builds true confidence, competence, and lasting change.
About the Guest: Brian is a global leader with over 13 years of experience in driving lean strategy and assessments within manufacturing, food processing, and distribution facilities. Industries served in his career include agriculture, office furniture, food & beverage, golf course maintenance, and insurance. He is dedicated to improving lives through continuous improvement work and focuses on his core values of Happiness, Empathy, and Hope.
Professionally, Brian has been recognized in the lean industry, having been featured on podcasts, served as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Lean Consortium from 2016-2020, and spoken at various conferences, including the 2016 Lean Six Sigma World Conference where his team won the Project of the Year award. He prides himself on empowering those he works with to change their lives and continues to seek opportunities to inspire others.
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