Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership

This week's guest is Bobby Jackson. Bobby explained what it means to use your natural gifts, the six different types, and how to determine what yours are. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote that inspires Bobby (3:01) His background (4:11) Using your natural gifts (11:01) The six different types of "working genius" (16:18) A review of the six (23:55) Identifying your natural gifts (25:40) Whether or not there's a balance (27:07) Bobby's natural gifts (28:54) His frustrations (32:37) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Bobby on LinkedIn Bobby on Medium Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What are your natural gifts?

This week's guest is Steve Bell. Ron and Steve discussed Steve's work applying lean to NGOs, how he approaches Change Management, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Steve's background (3:57) What NGO stands for (6:13) What problem Steve is trying to solve (10:25) An example Steve recently saw (14:01) How he handles the Change Management aspect (16:35) What the lean community can do (22:35) Two more stories of lean NGOs (27:30) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Lean Agile NGO Steve on LinkedIn Lean Agile NGO LinkedIn Group GA 010 | Using Lean to Help NGOs with Steve Bell Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How else could lean be used to help NGOs or non-profits?

This week's guest is Ryan Tierney of Seating Matters. Ryan and Ron discussed the reactions Ryan got when he first discovered lean, the importance of being both humble and curious, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Ryan likes (3:48) Ryan's background (4:30) Why they got started with lean (6:18) His colleagues' initial reactions (9:14) His siblings' initial reactions (13:24) His biggest struggle (15:51) How he got people engaged (17:31) What facilities Ryan toured (20:29) About their One-Piece Flow purchasing system (23:14) The "smallest batch practicable" (25:25) Being humble and curious (27:23) Remaining humble when you're successful (28:55) About "Lean Made Simple" (31:10) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 GA 254 | Discovering Lean with Ryan and Louise Tierney Ryan on YouTube Ryan on LinkedIn Lean Made Simple Lean Made Simple on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How did your family, friends, and/or coworkers react when you started practicing lean?

This week's guest is Andy Reith. Ron and Andy discussed Andy's time at Toyota as well as a tannery, and what Andy believes a brilliant process looks like. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Andy likes (2:30) Andy's background (3:30) How the tannery worked out (7:23) What a brilliant process looks like (10:21) What lean in footwear production is like (13:32) How he reinforced takt time (17:50) Advice Andy has for those just getting started (23:40) The great factories Andy has visited (25:57) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 GA 308 | Lessons Learned at Toyota with Andy Reith Andy on Instagram Andy on LinkedIn Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What does a brilliant process look like to you?

Problem-solving expert Jamie Flinchbaugh shares insights on writing good problem statements, ideation vs. brainstorming, and the role of coaches in shaping experiences. He discusses his book 'People Solve Problems' and common failure modes in problem-solving. Jamie reflects on his learnings since publishing his book and offers valuable advice on continuous improvement.

This week's guests are Matt May and Pablo Dominguez. Ron, Matt, and Pablo discussed Matt and Pablo's book What a Unicorn Knows, the role of AI in business, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quotes that inspire them (3:44) Their backgrounds (4:47) Why they wrote the book (7:52) Unicorns and business (10:48) The current state of unicorns (12:48) Whether the world is a worse or better place because of unicorns (16:49) The Formula 1 analogy (18:48) What SCALE means (27:45) Practical tips and tools for those just getting started (33:33) The role of AI in business (35:50) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Matt on LinkedIn Pablo on LinkedIn What a Unicorn Knows GA 002 | Learning, Focus, and Innovation with Matthew May GA 100 | How to Survive with Matt May  Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? What are your thoughts on the concept of "unicorns" in business?

This week's guest is Andrew Piland. Ron and Andrew discussed how continuous improvement works in the construction industry, what Respect for People looks like, supply chain waste, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Andrew's background (5:25) What he's up to these days (11:05) About Last Planner (16:55) What Respect for People looks like in construction (21:59) How you avoid getting to that problem spot (23:31) What other lean tools Andrew uses (24:15) His focus on supply chain waste (26:47) Advice for getting started (28:34) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Andrew on LinkedIn Touchplan MOCA Systems MOCA PM Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Is it better to start with software, or start with a process? Why or why not?

This week's guest is Phil Ranck. Ron and Phil talked about Lean Alaska, which Phil founded, as well as his work with the United States Army. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Phil likes (4:05) Phil's background (6:11) A cool story about the military (10:08) The difference between corporate and military environments (14:27) Academics versus application (17:12) How else you can gain experience (19:52) The obstacles to getting started (24:21) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Phil on LinkedIn Lean Alaska Lean Alaska on Facebook Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How do academics compare to application in a continuous improvement context?

This week's guest is Roland Guerrero. Ron and Roland discussed Roland's experience working with the city of Fort Collins on their lean journey. Ron also asked Roland to weigh in on whether contentment and continuous improvement can coexist. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Roland likes (2:34) Roland's background (3:35) Fort Collins' lean journey (5:10) Example improvements (7:27) Why it was challenging (12:48) Other tools they use (16:19) Whether contentment and continuous improvement can coexist (19:53) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Roland on LinkedIn Fort Collins Website Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How else could lean be used in a government setting?

This week's guest is Sam Morgan. Ron and Sam discussed Sam's coaching experiences and the connection between scientific thinking and confidence. They also discussed whether contentment and continuous improvement can coexist. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Sam's quote (3:45) Sam's background (5:04) What Sam identified as his purpose (12:13) The connection between scientific thinking and confidence (13:52) Whether contentment and continuous improvement can coexist (26:56) What Ron thinks (32:38) Rich's vision board (36:23) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Sam on LinkedIn Sam's Website Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway LinkedIn Thread Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Can contentment and continuous improvement coexist? Why or why not?