Lean Six Sigma Bursts

Brion Hurley
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Nov 8, 2026 • 10min

E146: Why Lean Teaches Takt Time Instead of Productivity Metrics

In this episode, I share a topic that has come up when teaching Takt Time to my students.Takt time is the available time divided by the customer demand. It measures how fast each unit needs to be produced.Productivity is often a measure of the number of units produced in an hour.I explain how they are inverse numbers of each other, but why Takt Time is preferred.Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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Oct 25, 2026 • 9min

E145: The Importance of Your Class Setup to a Great Learner Experience (Teaching 101 Webinar)

In this episode, I took a segment from my ⁠October webinar within the Lean Six Sigma Ecosystem platform⁠, and wanted to share it as an episode. I also shared another segment in my last episode around creating classroom interactions (#144)In the webinar, I share some tips and tricks I've developed over my 30 years of teaching courses to adult learners. In this segment, I explain how important it is to make sure your classroom or virtual setup goes smoothly and you don't run into problems. I've learned the hard way and wanted to share these experiences with you. ⁠Click here to access the full webinar⁠Webinars are accessible to Silver members for only $27/month, which includes access to all of our Premium cLearn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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4 snips
Oct 18, 2026 • 8min

E144: Engaging Your Audience During Class (Teaching 101 Webinar)

Turn adult-learning classes into lively conversations with practical techniques for replacing lectures, resetting attention, and drawing out participation. Explore open-ended questions, breakout discussions, group contributions, and ways instructors can learn from their own learners. The discussion also connects stronger engagement with better retention, feedback, and real-world application.
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Sep 21, 2026 • 10min

E143: Why LSS Leads to Better Improvements and Cost Reductions

In this episode, I took a module from the Lean Six Sigma and the Environment course, and cleaned it up with AI to make it easier to listen to (due to background noise).I discuss an overview of Lean and Six Sigma and how companies can make bad decisions when only focused on cost reductions.I also share some examples of how Lean Six Sigma has helped companies To download the 40+ case studies I mentioned, go to https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/c/templates/40-environmental-lean-six-sigma-case-studiesThe Lean Six Sigma and the Environment course will be available at LeanSixSigmaEcosystem.com in the next month or so.Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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Sep 13, 2026 • 8min

E142: Lean Six Sigma Challenges with Sustainability

In this episode, I took a module from the Lean Six Sigma and the Environment course, and cleaned it up with AI to make it easier to listen to (due to background noise).Earlier in the course, I discussed how Lean and Six Sigma could help reduce environmental impacts, sometimes without even trying.However, there are reasons why these impacts are overlooked in improvement methods, which I explain in this clip.The course will be available at LeanSixSigmaEcosystem.com in the next month or so.Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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Jul 24, 2026 • 10min

E141: Hidden Costs of Equipment Downtime

In this episode, I discuss a big opportunity to improve success in your manufacturing facility, reducing equipment downtime.Most people are only focused on the lost labor when equipment isn't running, but what about the lost opportunity to produce valuable products that could be sold to a customer?If you're looking for a good improvement project, collecting data on your downtime and calculating these costs might uncover a potential project you can work on.Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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Jun 22, 2026 • 13min

E140: Applying Six Sigma's IPO (Inputs Process Outputs) to your Personal Life

In this episode, I discuss an important concept in Six Sigma:Y = f(x) or Y is a function of x.Y is your measured output, and X represents the inputs to your process, and the function represents the process and how the X factors relate or impact the Y.Another way to state it is Inputs (X), Processes (Function) and Outputs (Y) or IPO.I explain how this concept can be used when thinking through your own personal improvement journey. What are your inputs, processes and outputs.If you don't like how one of the outputs is performing (relationships, weight, health, income, etc), then what processes and inputs need to change.Listen to the episode to learn more. If you'd like the graphic I mentioned, send me an email at [email protected] more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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May 17, 2026 • 14min

E139: Six Common Types of Process Improvement Projects for Lean Six Sigma Certification

In this episode, I summarize 6 different types of projects you can use for a Lean Six Sigma certificationImprove QualityReduce Speed and TimeReduce Cost and Consumption of ResourcesReduce RiskImprove Capacity and FlowImprove Experience and Satisfaction RatingsI also share examples of each across 4 industries: Manufacturing, Office, Government and HealthcareYou can also read about these 6 types by going to https://greenbeltcertification.com/2026/05/17/common-types-of-process-improvement-projects-for-lean-and-six-sigma-certification-programs/I also mentioned that there are a long list of project ideas by industry and department, which can be found at https://www.biz-pi.com/lean-and-six-sigma-project-ideas/Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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May 4, 2026 • 8min

E138: Using Employee Surveys and Paired t tests for Measuring Improvement

In this episode, I discuss a specific method for capturing process improvements using surveys, and how you can isolate the improvements so that the difference between survey participants doesn't hide the results. I also referenced a similar survey I conducted (Episode 77), where I shared the survey results at a company after implementing a daily huddle.You can check out episode #77 from June 2023 at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e77-client-survey-shows-daily-huddles-improve-communication/id1529478357?i=1000615545292Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization
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Apr 6, 2026 • 11min

E137: Lean Six Sigma Training Simulations and Exercises

In this episode, I share a list of the simulations I use in my training classes to teach Lean and Six Sigma methods and techniques. To see the entire list, go to https://greenbeltcertification.com/lean-six-sigma-training-simulations/If you'd like to attend the Green Belt with Copilot Part 2 webinar, I had to reschedule to April 13th. I'll go through ANOVA, DOE, Regression and other hypothesis tests using Copilot. You can still register at ⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/c/webinars/green-belt-refresher-using-copilot-part-2⁠⁠Learn more about BPIVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmaecosystem.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access free courses and templates, or upgrade for premium content and coaching programsVisit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.biz-pi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about me and my consulting firmVisit ⁠⁠https://greenbeltcertification.com⁠⁠ to learn how to get Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt training and certification for you or your organization

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