Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

This is cross-posted from my Lean Blog Audio podcast series. Episode page with links and more info⁠ I'm very happy to announce the release of my new ⁠Mistake-Proofing course⁠, available NOW through ⁠Karen Martin⁠ and ⁠TKMG Academy⁠. You can ⁠buy the course individually at TKMGAcademy.com⁠ for $129. Volume discounts are available for large teams or your entire workforce (for more information, email ⁠info@tkmgacademy.com⁠). The course is also part of the wonderful ⁠collection of courses⁠ in the all-access ⁠annual subscription⁠. The annual price of $529 goes up significantly at 11:59 pm CDT on May 31st, so act now for the best value pricing. Other TKMG Academy ⁠instructors⁠ in the series include Karen Martin, ⁠Elisabeth Swan⁠, ⁠Mike Osterling⁠, ⁠Tracy O'Rourke⁠, ⁠Brent Loescher⁠... and more. And if you ⁠subscribe to TKMG Academy⁠, you can participate in Karen's "Community of Practice" meeting with me on Wednesday, June 26th.  

My guest for Episode #505 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Art Byrne, who was a guest back in Episode 158 about 12 years ago — we discussed his book The Lean Turnaround. Episode page with video, transcript, and more: https://leanblog.org/505  Today, we’re discussing his new book, The Lean Turnaround Answer Book, an edited compilation of his “Ask Art” columns published by the Lean Enterprise Institute. Art Byrne has been implementing Lean strategy in various U.S.-based manufacturing and service companies, such as Danaher Corporation, for more than 30 years, including The Wiremold Company, which he ran for 11 years. He retired as an Operating Partner at the private equity firm J. W. Childs Associates L.P. In this episode, Art revisits the podcast after twelve years to discuss his new book, The Lean Turnaround Answer Book, an edited compilation of his "Ask Art" columns from the Lean Enterprise Institute website. Art shares his extensive experience implementing lean strategies across various industries, including his notable work with Wiremold and his role in private equity at JW Childs Associates. The conversation also covers Art's motivations for writing his books and his continuous efforts to disseminate lean knowledge, addressing the practical challenges and questions that arise in Lean implementations. Art elaborates on the essence of Lean principles, emphasizing the need for a fundamental shift in organizational philosophy and strategy. He recounts his experiences in transforming companies through Lean methodologies, including detailed anecdotes about reducing setup times, managing inventory, and improving operational efficiency. Art highlights the significant impact of lean on organizational performance, customer service, and financial health. The discussion also touches on the challenges of aligning traditional cost accounting with lean practices and the importance of engaging the finance department in the lean journey. Overall, Art's insights offer a comprehensive guide to Lean implementation, reinforced by real-world examples and practical advice. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: Tell us about the book and how this one came to be… Cost accounting and inventory? Orry Fiume - “Real Numbers” book The strategic value of setup reduction? How was Lean utilized in your private equity work? How was your role different as a PE partner? Looking for companies with a certain Lean potential? What factors are you looking for? Best Lean turnaround story? More likely a smaller PE company than a large public company? But Lean is not the default management approach for manufacturing? Higher than 10 years ago? Boeing - did they forget what Shingujitsu taught them? The problems caused by “make the month” The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #504 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Katie Anderson, author of the book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn. Episode page with video, transcript, and more In this episode, Katie takes the reins along with me, Mark Graban, to discuss the transformative journey of Japan Study Trips. Recognized globally for its rich contributions to modern business practices, Japan has long been a beacon for leadership and continuous improvement. But how can one experience this powerful journey? Strong leadership is integral to sustaining a culture of improvement. During these trips, participants get to hear from individuals like Katie Anderson, known for her insightful book "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn." Engaging with thought leaders deepens their understanding of the continuous learning process while expanding their networks. Not only they learn about the principles, they also meet and engage with their pioneers reflecting the deep connection between leadership and continuous learning. These discussion illuminates the importance of a culture where mistakes are seen as stepping stones to innovation. Personal engagements with companies recognized for their Lean practices reaffirm the significance of 'being over doing,' making these trips a true journey of transformation and discovery. Questions, Links, Notes, and Highlights: Learn more about Katie's November trip that I'm a part of Mark's website about Japan Tour How can we shift focus from doing to being in order to create a culture where better results and output are achieved? What role does continuous learning play in creating and fostering cultures of improvement and growth? How do leaders in organizations prioritize being over doing to cultivate a mindset and culture of learning and improvement? What are some common production principles and tools observed on shop floors, and how do they align with overall cultural objectives? What are the behaviors that need to become standard across an organization to create a culture of kindness, constructive response, and continuous improvement? How can leaders in various organizations and industries cultivate a mindset and culture of learning and improvement similar to those seen at Toyota? What role does sharing knowledge, stories, and experiences play in enhancing learning and strengthening connections within an organization or across industries? How do mistakes and constructive responses to them contribute to shaping a culture focused on learning and growth? The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #503 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Sam Morgan of Illuminate Coaching + Consulting. He was previously a guest in Episode #457. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Today's episode was originally live-streamed on April 9th... Sam's. been doing a livestream series on "Lean Coaching for Lean Coaches." So, in today's episode, you'll hear Sam coaching me... and then we'll have a broader conversation about the work that he's doing. We can all use a coach! We embark on a deep dive into creating and harnessing a culture of continuous improvement and Lean in various industries, especially within the healthcare sector. The episode unfolds the role of Lean coaching and the evolution of continuous improvement to meet the current business dynamics. Mark and Sam engage in a discussion on the intersection of psychological safety and effective continuous improvement. They discuss how creating an environment that facilitates incident reporting without fear of reprisal can lead to reduced adverse events, particularly in high-stakes industries like healthcare. This conversation serves as a guide for leaders to understand the importance of building a culture where openness is promoted, and trust leads to real-world enhancements. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: Going full time - leaving The Standard? Entrepreneurial experiments? People being coached in live format... and people watching? The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

My guest for Episode #502 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is DeWayne Allen, an executive, speaker, and workshop facilitator. Episode page with video, transcript, and more DeWayne is a results-driven executive with over 20 years of experience, renowned for leveraging a solid engineering and operations background to propel growth for Fortune 500 organizations.  As a visionary leader, DeWayne excels in crafting and executing strategic plans to deliver desired outcomes. With a proven track record in fostering relationships and adeptly managing cross-functional teams, DeWayne ensures seamless alignment of internal operations with overarching business objectives.  He is also a trusted advisor to C-suite executives for strategic decision-making. DeWayne is dedicated to empowering 1000+ Black leaders to become influential corporate executives through STEM education, fostering diversity, equity, and innovation. In this episode, we discuss how industrial engineering principles can be harnessed into strategic corporate leadership. Allen, who began his career as an engineer, spotlights his use of Six Sigma, lean methodologies, and continuous improvement tactics to tackle modern business challenges, from corporate turnarounds to driving growth. His success in transitioning into business-oriented roles, executing lean success in dynamic environments, and managing diverse operational aspects as a general manager add to his rich collection of professional experiences. Moreover, Allen's innovative application of lean methodologies to the hectic process of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) demonstrate his knack for using these principles regardless of context. And his view on incorporating lean management within nonprofits signals a broader utility for these principles outside of just manufacturing or profit-centered entities. In light of Allen's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), he champions the integration of these ethical and social values with lean principles for greater operational excellence. Join us and delve deeper into the workings of DeWayne Allen's lean philosophy and powerful leadership style. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: What's your Lean origin story? As a leader, helping everybody feel like and work like ONE TEAM? Becoming a formal leader — steps to work up to being a GM? What are some of your favorite stories or examples of using Lean throughout your career? You've worked as General Manager — The split of your time and attention?  What was your view of Lean in that role and what you learned there? Tell us about applying Lean in Mergers and Acquisitions work? Can you make that a process? Tell us about your work in the Non-profit space – National Society of Black Engineers, applying it there? The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

Marcia Daszko, mentored by Dr. Deming, discusses challenging management ideas like performance appraisals, change management, and problem-solving strategies. She emphasizes the importance of efficient decision-making, accountability vs. responsibility, and the triad of quality, improvement, and innovation. The podcast explores the transformative impact of Dr. Deming's philosophy on leadership, organizational change, and survival in today's evolving landscape.

Episode page with transcript and more My guest for Episode #500 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is me, your usual host Mark Graban. Today, I'm mixing up the format with a solo episode that celebrates 500 episodes over almost 18 years. I'll share some of the origin story and history of the podcast. You'll hear clips from Episode 1 (with Norm Bodek) and Episode 50 (where Jamie Flinchbaugh asked me about getting started). You'll also hear a clip from a recent conversation where Barry McCarthy, of AME Australia, asked me about persisting with podcasting all these years. Thanks for listening, whether this is your first time, you've listened to them all, or somewhere in between! The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.  Notes and Highlights: More than 500 episodes in 921 weeks, a little more than one every two weeks for 17.75 years 3,276,745 total downloads / listens, although I'm not convinced the stats are 100% consistent The top 10 most downloaded episodes The most frequent guests (#1 is Norman Bodek with 14 episodes) One anonymous guest Where listeners are from The origin story and the intro to Episode #1 A clip from Episode #50 My reflections on the clunky podcast name A shift over time from “big names” to highlighting new faces and their stories The one time I forgot to record! In memoriam: guests who have passed away

Jim Womack reflects on Lean evolution, discusses Boeing's issues, union engagement, aerospace leadership, global manufacturing challenges, and automotive industry breakthroughs. The episode covers various companies, countries, and topics, offering valuable insights and stories.

Jeff Liker, author of the Toyota Way series, discusses learning from mistakes within organizations that employ Toyota Production System. He shares insights on Toyota's culture of continuous improvement, the role of leadership in problem solving, and the significance of the andon cord system. The episode also explores the challenge of changing deeply embedded habits in leaders and the importance of assessing an organization's compatibility for help. Additionally, it discusses the challenges faced during the implementation of the team leader role at Ford's truck plant. Off-topic discussions about playing classical guitar conclude the episode.

My guest for Episode #497 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Tobias Gilk, the founder of Gilk Radiology Consulting (GRC). He is an architect by training, but has spent 20+ years focusing on MRI safety... initially through the architecture and planning of MRI facilities, but quickly growing into the technology, clinical practice, regulation, and economics of MRI safety. Episode page with video, transcript, and more He is recognized by both state and federal courts as an expert in MRI safety issues. Tobias has published dozens of papers and articles on MRI safety. He is also twice a member of the American College of Radiology's MRI Safety Committee (twice named co-author of ACR MRI safety standard guidance). In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of MRI technology, acknowledging its transformative role in health care but equally highlighting the overlooked dangers that require meticulous handling. Delving into safety protocols, process failures, and the risks associated with projectiles and thermal injuries, they underscore the need for stricter adherence to safety protocols. We not only discuss the intrinsic risks associated with MRI but also explore the regulatory landscape, identifying key gaps that permit inconsistency in safety practices. The narrative is a pointed reminder that safety is of paramount importance, and mitigating risks requires thorough screening, careful positioning, and a collective commitment to safety-first processes. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: Give us a quick MRI technology overview...  "The safe modality" What causes danger to staff and patients?? Machine malfunctions are very rare -- possible burns? A typical safety story? Clinically safe but with inherent process-related dangers? Why aren't there better access controls and checks about what and who comes near the magnet? Couldn't we cheaply brute force this by posting an educated "MRI Guard" outside the danger zone? Is patient safety really the top priority?? Staffing cost vs. risks of harm or machine damage... How common / frequent are incidents that harm or kill? "If you've been told that MRI safety only comes at the expense of throughput, you've been lied to." "Absolutely, Lean is essential to MRI safety..." The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This episode is also brought to you by "The Optimistic Outlook," hosted by Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA. This podcast is a hub for those passionate about transformative concepts that shape both our workplaces and our world. Find it in your favorite podcast app. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.