Quality Time With MoreSteam

Dan welcomes back Eric Olson to Quality Time with MoreSteam. Eric is a professor of industrial technology at Cal Poly State University and lead of the Future of People at Work Initiative. In this episode, the conversation shifts focus from AI to workplace dynamics and lean education. At the start of the conversation, generational differences in today's workforce take center stage. Then, Eric and Dan talk about building lean communities from the ground up and the challenges of scaling improvement initiatives. Eric also describes his hands-on approach to teaching the Green Belt curriculum at Cal Poly. For teams looking to get started with Lean, Eric suggests starting with simple questions to help nurture a culture of continuous improvement. This is another fun episode. Eric tells us why the future of people at work should include a midday nap. And be prepared! You might find yourself debating whether butter belongs in the refrigerator or on the counter. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:29 - The next generation of workers 4:49 - Central Coast Lean 8:57 - Teaching Gren Belt at Cal Poly 16:01 - Start out by asking "why?" 18:58 - Questioning a process 22:43 - Financial performance in Lean organizations 24:40 - Talking to CEO's who don't know about Lean 25:51 - The next Future of People at Work symposium Additional Resources: Eric Olsen on LinkedIn Future of People at Work Central Coast Lean Eric Olsen at Cal Poly MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Taylor Pack, Senior Manager of Process at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Taylor started her career working retail at Cracker Barrel. She became a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt through her experience at Bridgestone and the U.S. Coast Guard. Now she uses continuous improvement to help grant more wishes for children with critical illnesses. Taylor shares how Make-A-Wish operates entirely on donor funds. Every improvement in efficiency directly impacts the organization's ability to reach more families. She explains how her small team has streamlined operations across the organization with impressive results. During the conversation, Taylor discusses how process improvements have reduced workloads for overburdened staff and accelerated communication between departments. Listen and find out how Taylor and Make-A-Wish use Lean Six Sigma and process improvement to grant more wishes and change more lives. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:31 - The Make-A-Wish Foundation 4:02 - Taylor's background 6:20 - Taking the job with Make-A-Wish 7:38 - Continuous improvement and Make-A-Wish 10:31 - Lean Six Sigma projects at Make-A-Wish 17:07 - Improving the handoff process 19:34 - Data analysis at Make-A-Wish 23:04 - Other key metrics 26:38 - Continuous improvement outside of manufacturing 29:21 - Buy in 36:05 - The impact of granting wishes 42:49 - The evolution of continuous improvement at Make-A-Wish 47:24 - The impact of Lean Six Sigma in the non-profit sector Additional Resources: Taylor Pack on LinkedIn The Make-A-Wish Foundation MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Josh Howell, President of the Lean Enterprise Institute. Josh went from Starbucks barista to leading lean transformations at thousands of locations worldwide. Now he's working alongside lean legends Jim Womack, John Shook, and Peter Ward. Josh shares how his store was randomly selected for Starbucks' "model cafe" experiment with lean. That background led to his promotion from store manager to corporate headquarters when Starbucks expanded lean throughout the company. During the conversation, Josh explains why standardization and innovation are friends, not enemies, and discusses his framework for helping leaders develop humble inquiry skills. The conversation also covers how AI serves as a thinking companion and why Josh still feels as challenged today as when he first began putting these ideas into practice. Plus, there's some good-natured ribbing about college football when this Notre Dame alum cleverly fires back at Dan's historical trivia. Listen and find out why this 'luckiest lean learner in the world' believes most organizations are missing the boat on actual work improvement and focusing too much on management activities instead of where the real value creation happens. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:40 - Josh's background 3:28 - Josh responds to Eric Olsen (cliffhanger!) 10:18 - The journey from Starbucks to LEI 15:51 - Interacting with the legends of Lean 19:20 - The definition of Lean 21:14 - Lean thinking and meaningful work 24:50 - Standardization and innovation 27:45 - The coach as learner 29:39 - The Lean Transformation Framework 34:51 - Josh reflects on his career trajectory 37:06 - Sustaining Lean practices 40:40 - It's 2025, so we gotta talk about AI 45:34 - Being successful at Lean is challenging 49:18 - Football talk to close out the show Additional Resources: Josh Howell on LinkedIn Josh Howell at the Lean Enterprise Institute The Lean Enterprise Institute Tom Paider on Meaningful Work MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Eric Olsen, Professor of Industrial Technology at Cal Poly State University. Eric spent 20 years in industry with companies like Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard before jumping into academia. Dan started the interview with a bunch of questions about Lean, but the conversation took a sharp turn into artificial intelligence territory. Eric shares how he's experimenting with AI for everything from writing to problem-solving. He uses it as his go-to learning tool. Of course, the big question looms: how do people find new ways to contribute when AI keeps getting better?" Eric tackles this head-on through his work with the Future of People at Work initiative, where different improvement methodologies team up to solve bigger challenges. Hear how one continuous improvement expert is using AI to revolutionize his own learning process! In this episode, you will hear about: 2:04 - Eric's background 4:39 - Eric's time at The Ohio State University 6:00 - The recent Future of People at Work symposium 7:35 - The future of Future of People at Work 11:06 - Adding extra value in the age of AI 18:15 - Engaging with AI 22:47 - Students using AI 25:33 - Eric's question for Josh Howell, President of the Lean Enterprise Institute Additional Resources: Eric Olsen on LinkedIn Future of People at Work Central Coast Lean Eric Olsen at Cal Poly MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

Drew Locher, a Lean and enterprise excellence consultant and two-time Shingo Prize winner, discusses behavioral change as the core of continuous improvement. He touches on value stream mapping pitfalls, why leaders avoid the Gemba, Toyota Kata and PDCA habit-building, applying Lean beyond manufacturing, creating safe improvement environments, and unleashing 3P for better product and process design.

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Michael Hathaway to the show. Michael is MoreSteam's eLearning Content Manager. Before joining MoreSteam, Michael taught at charter schools in Houston and Columbus. Now, Michael uses the lessons he learned as a professional educator to develop eLearning for continuous improvement professionals. Some educational concepts are universal, whether you're teaching kids or Lean Six Sigma Black Belts. Clear storytelling. Rapid feedback. Constant experimentation. That sounds like continuous improvement, right? But it's also great teaching. Listen to this episode to learn more! Yeah, we tease him a lot, 'cause we got him on the spot, Welcome Back, Michael! In this episode, you will hear about: 2:07 - Michael's background in education 3:20 - From middle school to MoreSteam 5:17 - Applying the lessons learned as an educator 7:44 - Continuous improvement at Yes Prep and KIPP 13:56 - Using data to create more effective eLearning 16:12 - Updating content as learning evolves 19:28 - Teaching the soft skills of continuous improvement 22:03 - Motivating learners 26:46 - Working with Mel Coyle at MoreSteam 28:27 - The future of eLearning Additional Resources: Michael Hathaway on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Process Playground MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout sits down with Dr. Mary Reich Cooper and Michael Anderson from the Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University. The conversation explores how Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence are put to work in healthcare settings. Michael is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Mary brings experience as a physician and holds a law degree. Their unique backgrounds shape the way they tackle challenges at Jefferson, from managing change to finding better ways to support patients and staff. This episode also looks at the realities of standardizing care in a people-focused environment and the ongoing effort to improve handoffs in healthcare. With a few nods to football (Fly, Eagles Fly) and life in Philadelphia, you will get a look at continuous improvement in action at one of the country's leading academic health institutions. In this episode, you will hear about: 2:46 - Medicine, Law, and Lean Six Sigma 5:53 - Informatics 7:26 - Leveraging diverse backgrounds while collaborating 11:40 - Healthcare and "widgets" 13:14 - Lean Six Sigma and patient safety 15:56 - Advice for other healthcare organizations 18:44 - Using Lean Six Sigma to fight staff burnout 20:40 - Continuous improvement in the healthcare curriculum 22:08 - What healthcare can learn from other sectors 23:16 - Handoffs in healthcare 25:32 - Future trends in process improvement and healthcare Additional Resources: Michael Anderson on LinkedIn Dr. Mary Reich Cooper on LinkedIn The Jefferson College of Population Health MoreSteam's Process Playground MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

What's better than one Lean Six Sigma Black Belt? Two! On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Lean Six Sigma Black Belts Raquel Chase-Kelly and James Perry to the show. Raquel and James work for Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics and use process modeling to streamline hospital operations and improve patient care. Process modeling lets you rapidly simulate and anticipate how a system reacts to different situations. During this fun, informative chat, James and Raquel explain how MoreSteam's Process Playground helped Dartmouth Health clear a 155-car backup at a drive-through flu clinic and fix an MRI backlog. This episode also covers building a model with imperfect data and fighting staff burnout. Of course, as always, there are some laughs along the way. Listen and find out why everybody should have a Jamie. In this episode, you will hear about: 2:23 - The backgrounds of our guests 5:22 - Using Process Playground during the pandemic 6:37 - Streamlining the drive-through flu clinic 9:29 - Starting out with process modeling, simulations, and Process Playground 11:05 - Building models with imperfect data 13:09 - Fixing the MRI backlog 14:50 - Modeling shows the need for additional staff 16:03 - Using Process Playground to advocate for staff well-being 18:48 - The magic of process improvement 20:57 - Teaching process improvement at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Value Institute Learning Center 25:05 - Collaborating with other healthcare providers 26:14 - Advice for beginners in process improvement 27:49 - Future challenges in healthcare 32:00 - Closing thoughts Additional Resources: James Perry on LinkedIn Raquel Chase-Kelly on LinkedIn The Dartmouth Hitchcock Value Institute Learning Center MoreSteam's Process Playground MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Dr. Larry Inks to the show. Larry is a Professor of Management and Human Resources at The Ohio State University who previously ran talent management for Cardinal Health. Dan and Larry discuss why one clear goal keeps a team focused. They also explore change management, including the emotional aspects of change, and the differences between management and leadership. Listen and find out why Larry is one of the foremost experts on talent management and team effectiveness. In addition to being informative and helpful, this is one of the most entertaining episodes of Quality Time with MoreSteam. Larry kept Dan laughing throughout the conversation. Clutter in your junk drawer? It's here. Cleaning out your garage? We've got it. Even WKRP in Cincinnati? Absolutely. You won't want to miss this one. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:08 - Larry's background 5:07 - Building successful teams 7:04 - Setting goals that work 9:54 - Empathy, compassion, and organizational leadership 11:36 - The difference between managing and leading 13:14 - Being authentic as a leader 16:35 - Making changes that last 21:30 - Helping people work through the emotional side of change 25:24 - The quiet resistance to change 27:20 - Remote work versus return-to-office 34:31 - Thoughts on resilience Additional Resources: Larry Inks, PhD, on LinkedIn Larry Inks, PhD, at The Ohio State University MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

Step onto the field with host Dan Swartwout as he explores a new playbook for improvement. In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan tells the story of the fictional Columbus Tigers, a football team that turns around its losing streak using Lean Six Sigma. (There actually was a Columbus Tigers pro football team about a century ago!) Football is familiar territory for many, and this episode uses the game as a fresh lens for understanding process improvement. Dan breaks down Lean Six Sigma concepts in plain language and shows how tools like process maps and dashboards can drive real change. The action on the field becomes a guide for tackling challenges in any organization. See how the strategies behind winning games translate to smarter teamwork, fewer errors, and better results everywhere. Lean Six Sigma steps out of the factory and onto the gridiron, making continuous improvement accessible, practical, and a little more exciting. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:32 - Introducing the Tigers 4:05 - Lean Six Sigma defined 5:59 - The DMAIC framework, starting with Define 7:38 - Measure 9:21 - Analyze 12:29 - Improve 14:51 - Control 16:16 - The results 17:31 - Recapping the Lean Six Sigma tools used by the Tigers 21:42 - The purpose of this episode Additional Resources: The Most Recent Street Stats Video Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube