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

This week's guest is Sarah Tilkens. Ron and Sarah discussed her career at GE, the impact coaching has had on her, and how she integrates coaching and lean. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Sarah has been thinking about (3:52) Her background (6:01) Identifying individual strengths (7:53) The impact coaching has had on her (12:12) Advice from Sahil Bloom (14:35) Integrating coaching and lean (16:46) What happens when you're dealing with a "tough" learner (19:56) What GE is up to continuous improvement-wise (22:39) How to be a better coach (25:15) What's next for Sarah (27:58) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Sarah on LinkedIn GA 275 | Leading vs. Serving with Sarah Tilkens GA 408 | Lean and Life Coaches with Sarah Tilkens 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 impact has coaching had on you?

This week's guest is Calvin Williams. Ron and Calvin discussed Calvin's new book, "FIT: The Simple Science of Achieving Strategic Goals," and what setting strategic goals really entails. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Calvin's background (3:01) The quote Calvin likes (3:55) About his book (5:06) What FIT stands for (8:04) The problem they're trying to address (11:55) His advice for setting a strategic goal (16:01) Where this fits in the continuous improvement realm (20:59) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Calvin on LinkedIn FIT on Amazon Impruver GA 318 | Structuring Your Continuous Improvement Efforts GA 433 | Being a Scientific Leader 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 you go about setting strategic goals?

This week's guest is Bonnie Davis. Ron and Bonnie discussed how the two pillars of lean should work together, A3 Thinking, and the importance of leadership buy-in and how to influence it. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Bonnie uses often (3:39) Her background (4:45) About Re:Build (6:33) What Respect for People means to Bonnie (7:23) The balance between the two pillars (10:43) What A3 Thinking means to Bonnie (14:13) Another way of documenting a value stream map (18:55) Advice for those who don't have senior leadership buy-in (22:32) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Bonnie on LinkedIn Re:Build 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 do the two pillars of lean mean to you?

This week's guest is Vince Sassano. Ron and Vince discussed KPIs, balancing them with what the customer wants, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Vince likes (2:49) Vince's background (4:33) What "Herbie" means (6:06) Balancing the KPI with what the customer wants (15:14) Shifting to actions (16:52) Why the way you collect data is important (24:56) How this applies to Six Sigma (28:46) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 The Goal Vince on LinkedIn SPC 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 you approach KPIs?

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?