

Lean Six Sigma Bursts
Brion Hurley
Brion Hurley from Business Performance Improvement shares his takes and thoughts on a variety of topics related to process improvement (specifically Lean and Six Sigma methods), Bursts are rapid improvement activities, so this sounded like a good word to use for these short audio clips. We'll try to keep them under 10 minutes each. Have a question? Use the Spotify app to leave us a voice message, and we might pick your question for our next episode!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 4, 2023 • 8min
E92: Should my kaizen event be a planning session or a working session?
In one of my recent Lean classes, I discuss the difference between planning kaizen events and working kaizen events. Planning events end up with a 90-day implemenatation plan. Working events end up with 80% completion of actions by the end of the event, with 30 days to complete the remaining 20% of the actions. I try and encourage more working sessions, but planning is sometimes really important to decide where to focus the working sessions in the future.
To better understand this podcast, watch the State of Washington VSM video (about 10 minutes).
Links
A Glimpse into a Value Stream Map (VSM) - State of Washington DSHS - Video
Lean Six Sigma Project Coaching Program
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Nov 27, 2023 • 6min
E91: How can I get the most frontline worker participation in a kaizen working event?
In one of my recent Lean classes, I discuss ways to engage front line workers in working kaizen events. I talk about the differences between working and planning sessions in my last podcast. I discuss options for working ahead, catching up afterwards, having half-day sessions (half kaizen, half working), splitting the event across many shifts, and having the leads and supervisors participate but checking in with the workers frequently.
Links
Lean Six Sigma Project Coaching Program
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Nov 18, 2023 • 7min
E90: Free Lean and Sustainability Webinar Series - Nov 28th and 30th
I've been helping set up a webinar series with support from the Iowa Sustainable Business Forum and the Iowa Lean Consortium. There are two webinars you can choose from, or sign up for both.
I will be presenting the first webinar, Lean Methods for Sustainable Organizations. I will introduce those in sustainability roles to Lean methods, which have become some of the most popular improvement methods used in high-performing organizations in manufacturing, healthcare, government and many other industries.
The second webinar, Sustainability for Lean Organizations, will be presented by Adam Hammes from SGS North America. He will help demonstrate to process improvement specialists, engineers, and management the business case for applying risk and quality management strategies like Lean to sustainability performance.
Links
Lean and Sustainability Webinar Series with ISBF and ILC
Lean Six Sigma Project Coaching Program
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Nov 12, 2023 • 5min
E89: Q&A from Six Sigma training - What to do when data collection system is under development?
In this episode, I answer another question in one of my Six Sigma classes. The student said they were having supplier issues, but the data wasn't very good. There is a plan to implement a data collection system, but it might not be ready for a few months. Should she wait until the system is ready and then start her project, or start now and collect the data manually.
Links
Lean Six Sigma Project Coaching Program
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Nov 5, 2023 • 8min
E88: Q&A from Six Sigma training - What if solutions are part of your Six Sigma project charter?
In this episode, I answer a question in one of my Six Sigma classes. The student said they were not sure if their project could be used, because it alreadys mentions some solutions to the problem, and the training said no solutions can be defined at the beginning of a Six Sigma project. He wanted to know how to handle this situation, which is very common.
Links
Lean Six Sigma Project Coaching Program
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Oct 31, 2023 • 10min
E87: Six Sigma in Real Life: Taguchi Loss Function for Hotel Pool Temps and the Solar Eclipse
In this podcast, I discuss the Taguchi Loss Function again, this time using some real-life examples. I discuss hotel pool temperatures, solar eclipses, and fruit ripeness.
I originally talked about this topic in Episode 37, explaining how an increase in variation away from the target value (even within specification limits) leads to an exponential increase in customer dissatisfaction. This is different than the traditional approach of viewing results within the specification limits as good, and results outside of the specification limits as bad.
Hope you enjoy this topic. If you think of other real-life examples, please let me know!
Links
Solar Eclipse Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKsVT5tzPY4
Podcast episode #37 - Taguchi Loss Function: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leansixsigmabursts/episodes/E37-What-is-the-Taguchi-Loss-Function-e11qlov
What is the Taguchi Loss Function?: https://www.leansixsigmadefinition.com/glossary/taguchi-loss-function/
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Oct 12, 2023 • 21min
E86: Camping and the 8 Wastes (TIM WOODS)
In this episode, I go through TIM WOODS, which is an acronym to describe the 8 types of waste in a process. As an example, I discuss how the 8 wastes apply to recent camping trips I've been making with my wife this summer and fall. Hopefully, this gives you some ideas on how to see waste in your daily activities and work tasks.
Sorry for the length of this podcast, I guess I had a lot to talk about!
Links
What is TIM WOODS (8 Wastes)?
Workshop #1 on Lean Six Sigma and Wasted Food (includes 8 Wastes)
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Oct 2, 2023 • 10min
E85: Six Sigma Criticisms #1 - The Motorola 1.5 Sigma Shift
In this episode, I discuss some common criticisms about Six Sigma that I've been hearing about over the years. These tend to make their rounds on LinkedIn every few months or years, so I wanted to take each one and go much deeper in the podcast than I can online.
Let's start with one of the biggest ones, the 1.5 sigma shift, also called the Motorola Shift.
If there are others you have heard about you'd like me to discuss, contact me and I'll add it to a future episode.
Links
What is the Motorola Shift?
Six Sigma Overview and Sigma Levels using Golfing Analogy Video
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Sep 13, 2023 • 13min
E84: Using Process Mapping and Regression to Reduce Electricity Usage
In this episode, I discuss my work with a client that is trying to improve their sustainability score. One of the next steps is to establish a goal for electricity reduction, since it is a large contributor to their carbon footprint. I explain how to apply process mapping to heating and cooling a building, and why regression modeling and analysis can be helpful in focusing your electricity reduction efforts.
Links
Integrating Weather Data into your Analysis: https://leansixsigmaenvironment.org/index.php/integrating-weather-data-into-your-analysis/
Predicting and reducing electricity consumption: https://leansixsigmaenvironment.org/index.php/predicting-and-reducing-electricity-consumption/
Reducing electricity in a large facility or company: https://leansixsigmaenvironment.org/index.php/reducing-electricity-in-a-large-facility-or-company/
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com

Aug 26, 2023 • 7min
E83: Clip from Interview with Climate Change Professional David Saunders
In this episode, I discuss an interview and discussion I had with Climate Change Professional and former Quality executive, David Saunders. We talk about how to leverage your skills of process and quality improvement to improve the environment and help mitigate climate change.
Links
Full interview with David Saunders: Video | Audio Podcast
Need help in your organization? Let's talk! Schedule a free support call
Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it’s all there. Download it for free at creativesafetysupply.com/5S
BIZ-PI.com
LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com
Have a question? Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com


