Quality Time With MoreSteam

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dr. Jim Cole joins the podcast to share how process improvement has guided his work in both military and healthcare settings. Dr. Cole introduces tools like the Marine Corps Planning Process, OODA loops, and operational risk management. Jim shares how these military methods helped him tackle challenges in civilian healthcare. To that end, Dr. Cole reflects on creating efficient systems for bed availability and managing variation to establish standard work. This conversation highlights how practical tools and strong leadership can transform even the toughest situations into opportunities for improvement. Plus, for you music fans, there are references to AC/DC, Cheap Trick, and Stray Cats! In this episode, you will hear about: 2:41 - Jim's background in the military and medicine 4:39 - Growing up in Suburban Chicago 7:05 - College, the military, and medical school 7:53 - The Navy Seals 10:52 - Process Improvement and Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer Training 15:28 - The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act 16:45 - Operational Risk Management 19:57 - Using military training in Process Improvement for civilian healthcare 24:02 - Addressing hospital bed availability 29:17 - Introducing Process Improvement to an initially reluctant team 31:33 - Variation and Standard Work 34:07 - Reviewing the data and performance metrics 35:59 - Keys to leadership 38:17 - Depictions of surgery in movies and TV 41:21 - From chaos to order Additional Resources: Trauma: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon Dr. Jim Cole on LinkedIn Dr. Jim Cole at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health 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 talks with Mark Reich. Mark is Senior Lean Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute and author of the new book, Managing On Purpose. Mark's book is a practical guide to Hoshin Kanri, a strategy deployment system that combines long-term vision with day-to-day execution. Managing On Purpose features step-by-step tools and a detailed case study to help organizations align strategy with action while developing their leaders. Mark shares stories from his career, including his time managing Toyota's corporate strategic planning for North America. He explains how tools like "catchball" and "obeya" help organizations foster collaboration and track progress effectively. Mark also emphasizes the importance of leadership behaviors in creating a culture where problems are opportunities for growth. This episode is packed with insights on strategy deployment, leadership development, and creating purpose-driven organizations. Don't miss this fun, informative conversation with one of Lean's most experienced practitioners. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:48 - Mark's background 5:34 - Working for Toyota in Japan 7:28 - The Toyota Supplier Support Center (now the Toyota Production Systems Support Center) 9:49 - Writing Managing on Purpose 12:40 - An introduction to Hoshin Kanri 18:04 - PDCA (Plan. Do. Check. Act.) 20:43 - Understanding problems at the Gemba 24:11 - The concept of Obeya 28:48 - The concept of Catchball 34:04 - Value-creating work versus non-value-creating work 37:34 - Hoshin Kanri and leadership 40:10 - Initial feedback to Managing on Purpose 42:30 - The changing business environment 46:02 - The opportunity for everybody to innovate 49:02 - Mark's next project Additional Resources: Order Managing on Purpose Mark Reich on LinkedIn Mark Reich at the Lean Enterprise Institute 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 MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout chats with Kim Koning, Aurorium's Global Director of Operational Excellence and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Kim shares his journey from wrestling mats in Indiana to leading global process improvement initiatives. He also reflects on how lessons from his early career as a plant manager and his MBA in finance shaped his approach to leadership and continuous improvement. Kim shares why Gemba walks are his favorite part of the day and how they help build trust on the shop floor. Another standout moment is when Kim recounts his "aha" realization—the day he saw Lean Six Sigma as the key to staying competitive. At home, Kim's audience of eight might roll their eyes at his continuous improvement experiments. But on Quality Time with MoreSteam, his experiments find a much bigger audience. In this episode, you will hear about: 2:00 - Kim's background 2:52 - Wrestling with continuous improvement 4:36 - Going to Purdue 5:45 - Plant management 7:24 - Gemba walks 9:27 - Statistics and probability 11:24 - Kim's thoughts on Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence 20:44 - The Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference 23:36 - The Master Black Belt challenge 26:23 - Kim's "aha!" moment Additional Resources: MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

We're throwing a party for the big 2-5! MoreSteam is turning 25, and what better way to celebrate than with the 25th episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam! This special episode takes you on a journey through 25 standout moments from the podcast. Host Dan Swartwout revisits some of the most interesting, surprising, and entertaining highlights from past episodes. From creative uses of Lean Six Sigma to moments that made us laugh (or think twice), this collection captures everything we love about continuous improvement—and then some. It's a greatest-hits celebration packed with sharp takes, unexpected twists, and plenty of reasons to celebrate 25 years of making things better. Cheers to MoreSteam! In this episode, you will hear about: 1:11 - Peg Pennington 2:01 - Rich "Raz" Razgaitis 2:37 - Alan Payne 3:25 - Shawn Washburn 4:09 - Alan Goodman 4:53 - Ken Robinette 5:41 - Emmanuel Aouad ("Gemba Walk") 7:30 - Omar Mora 8:11 - Karina Kretz 9:00 - Maria Fry 10:05 - Generative AI and Process Improvement 11:27 - MoreSteam's Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference 13:00 - Brian Bross 14:14 - Dino Tripodis 15:22 - Kevin Keller 16:25 - Peter Ward 17:37 - Meredith Brody 18:46 - Getting in the Holiday Spirit 19:38 - Ryan Weiss 24:13 - Thomas Paider 26:23 - Chris Spranger 27:37 - Bill Hathaway 29:09 - Writing Jokes with Generative AI 32:54 - The 25th Moment Additional Resources: MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

MoreSteam is celebrating 25 years of process improvement! In this episode, MoreSteam founder and CEO Bill Hathaway joins the show to talk about all the milestones, mistakes, and defining moments. Bill shares stories from his early days in manufacturing, including a memorable encounter with instrument panels that didn't quite fit (spoiler: kicking them wasn't the best solution). He also talks about the leap from corporate life to starting MoreSteam, how the company got its unique name, and what it was like running the business out of his home—with his dog as VP of Security. The conversation covers lessons in leadership, the evolution of process improvement, and why unglamorous work is often the most important. Bill also reflects on the future of MoreSteam and the role of technology, like generative AI, in solving tomorrow's problems. Join us for a candid discussion about the past, present, and future of Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence, and continuous improvement at MoreSteam. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:59 - Bill's First Experiences with Quality and Process Improvement 5:36 - The Beginning of MoreSteam 10:49 - The Name of the Company 13:36 - The Challenges of Running a Business Out of Your Home 15:17 - Moving Into MoreSteam's First Office 18:10 - Mistakes Along the Way 22:53 - From Content to Software: EngineRoom 25:10 - Bill's Secret to Leadership 28:06 - Connecting to MoreSteam's Mission 30:12 - In Praise of Unglamorous Activities 31:26 - The Future of MoreSteam 35:50 - The Team Sport of Continuous Improvement Additional Resources: Bill Hathaway on LinkedIn In Praise of Unglamorous Activities 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 MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time with MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

Chris Spranger's Lean Six Sigma journey began unexpectedly during a co-op at a firetruck manufacturer. Initially uninterested in quality work, he soon became fascinated by tracking production data and solving shop-floor problems. A mouse pad from his boss featuring 'ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt' and a Christmas gift request for Lean Six Sigma by Michael George sealed the deal—Chris was hooked. In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Chris chats with Dan about how he has applied Lean tools across industries like healthcare, aerospace, and public service. He shares insights on adapting methodologies to different organizational needs, engaging stakeholders effectively, and why soft skills are critical for success. Chris also explores Measurement System Analysis (MSA), explaining how it ensures reliable data collection and highlights inconsistencies in processes. It's all about making work easier and more effective! Tune in to hear why Chris believes improving processes isn't just about efficiency—it's about creating better days at work for everyone involved. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:45 - How a firetruck factory introduced Chris to Lean Six Sigma 3:45 - The role of a mouse pad and a book in shaping his career path 6:26 - Applying Lean tools across diverse industries 9:14 - Common misconceptions about Lean Six Sigma 13:11 - Why communication and people skills are key to success 19:22 - People skills: the art and the science of Lean Six Sigma 20:49 - How MSA ensures consistent and reliable measurements 24:11 - Detecting inconsistencies with MSA Additional Resources: Chris Spranger on LinkedIn Spranger Business Solutions 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 MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Thomas Paider joins the show. Tom is the co-author of The Lean IT Field Guide: A Roadmap for Your Transformation. He is also the Vice President for Technology Infrastructure and Computing at Nationwide and a member of the Board of Directors of the Lean Enterprise Institute. This is a phenomenal conversation. According to our host Dan Swartwout, this episode contains some of the most profound thoughts on Lean in the history of the podcast. Tom makes complex ideas about Lean and Agile approachable and engaging. If you're interested in how Lean principles can reshape IT and create thriving workplace cultures, this episode is one you won't want to miss! In this episode, you will hear about: 1:33 - Tom's Background 4:50 - Working on Y2K 6:27 - Key Messages from the Lean It Field Guide 8:25 - The Operational Definition of IT 10:02 - The First Steps in a Lean IT Journey 13:56 - Misconceptions About Lean in the Technology Space 16:22 - Moving People to More Valuable Activities 18:55 - Agile in IT 22:25 - The Early Days of the Lean IT Transformation at Nationwide 24:29 - Advice for IT Teams Starting Their Lean Journeys 27:08 - Learning from Other Industries 29:41 - Overcoming Resistance 32:12 - Lean, Agile, and DevOps 36:35 - Tom's Proudest Moments at Nationwide 38:17 - Peyton Manning 39:19 - The Future of Lean Technology 42:36 - Tom's Experiences as a Runner Additional Resources: Thomas Paider on LinkedIn The Lean IT Field Guide: A Roadmap for Your Transformation MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Ryan C. Weiss joins the program. Ryan is an author, entrepreneur, and president of Effective Performance Strategies. He also tells one of the best stories about continuous improvement. That story involves tools, skills, mindset, and an orangutan. (Yes, an orangutan.) You won't want to miss it. In addition to that great story, Ryan and host Dan Swartwout talk about the power of the SIPOC, eliminating bad handoffs, and the importance of parallel paths. Maybe you already have the tools. You might already have the skills. But without a doubt, this conversation with Ryan C. Weiss will put you in the right mindset for operational excellence! In this episode, you will hear about: 0:48 - Ryan's Background 3:35 - Ryan's Experiences in College 11:12 - Ryan Path Changes From Medicine to Finance 16:05 - From the Corporate World to Entrepreneur 18:36 - The Fitbit Story 22:27 - The Orangutan Story 29:40 - Dale Carnegie and Continuous Improvement 31:49 - Building SIPOCs 33:49 - Broken Handoffs 37:05 - Getting People Involved in Processes 39:51 - SIPOC-Focused Software 42:31 - Ryan's Podcast Additional Resources: Ryan C. Weiss on LinkedIn Optics: Align People and Process to Accelerate Performance Optics in Action Podcast Effective Performance Strategies MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

This isn't your typical Quality Time with MoreSteam! To celebrate the season, we're bringing you a festive treat — a Lean Six Sigma-inspired version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Packed with value streams, Gemba walks, and continuous improvement cheer, this playful adaptation blends holiday magic with the principles of operational excellence. Pause for a moment to recharge, reflect, and enjoy a fun story that blends the holiday spirit with a touch of improvement inspiration. Here's to a new year filled with fresh ideas, smoother processes, and plenty of opportunities to grow. Additional Resources: MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Meredith Brody from Constellation joins the show to discuss the successful implementation of a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt program. Constellation has a winning program called the Embedded Lean Practitioner Program. As a LSS Black Belt and Principal Project Manager at Constellation, Meredith shares firsthand experiences and practical advice on how to design and execute a successful program that aligns with organizational goals. Listeners will get a clear picture of what it takes to kickstart a Lean Six Sigma initiative – from setting clear goals and engaging stakeholders to tracking success. This episode is a must-listen for organizations aiming to boost efficiency, improve quality, and build a culture of continuous improvement. By hearing from someone who's helped successfully implement a process improvement training program, you'll walk away with practical insights to help drive real change in your own organization. Join Meredith and host Dan Swartwout for an engaging discussion that offers guidance on creating a big impact with an effective training program. Plus, there are a few laughs along the way. All organizations can benefit from continuous improvement. This podcast is perfect for leaders, managers, and professionals committed to operational excellence and innovation. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:28 - Meredith's background 6:34 - The inception of the Embedded Lean Practitioner program 9:12 - Piloting the program 10:34 - Changes in the program over time 13:50 - Responding to feedback about the program 17:29 - Using simulations to enhance learning 23:32 - Communicating ROI to senior leadership and other stakeholders 26:10 - Promoting the program within the organization 28:31 - Why people participate in the program 31:28 - How Meredith uses Lean Six Sigma outside of work 33:55 - Working with MoreSteam Additional Resources: Meredith Brody on LinkedIn Constellation on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart