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

This week's guest is Tom Hughes. Ron and Tom discussed how culture and standards coexist in lean, and why it's so important to be candid. Tom also shared some great anecdotes and lean wisdom. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Tom likes (3:31) Tom's background and what he's up to these days (4:49) What Tom means by standards (8:43) Why "culture" and "standards" should go together (10:06) Being candid (11:16) A story about his first automotive job (19:30) The role of "heart" in lean (21:39) A story about Seating Matters (24:49) Why you can't buy a lean culture (28:30) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Improvement Starts With I Improvement Starts With I on Audible (US) Improvement Starts With I on Audible (UK) GembaDocs Tom on LinkedIn Tom on YouTube What Do You Think?Describe a time when it was important to be candid.

This week's guest is John Knotts. Ron and John talked all about data, how to approach it, and what tools John recommends. John also expanded on the concept of "being the rock."  An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  John's background (2:57) His favorite quote (3:55) The approach to data collection he recommends (5:50) The type of data John is looking for (13:30) Looking at trended data (14:59) Determining the type of data you're dealing with (17:13) How John handles outliers (20:05) The tools that stand out to John (23:28) What John doesn't teach (28:18) An anecdote from one of his LinkedIn posts (36:25) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off John on LinkedIn "Be the Rock" Post What Do You Think? What is your relationship to data like? How has it been beneficial?

This week's guest is Brent Weichers. Brent explained how his organization has made real changes to improve the lives of the employees. He also shared what he'll be presenting at this year's AME conference. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Brent likes (3:28) His background (6:23) Their approach with metrics and measurements (8:28) How they measure what's working (13:57) How they rolled out what they learned using pillars (15:10) What "winning" would look like (21:46) About heat mapping and Brent's breakout session at AME (26:54) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Brent on LinkedIn What Do You Think? How do you use metrics to track your improvements and make decisions?

This week's guest is Steve Kane. Ron and Steve discussed the benefits and challenges of virtual training. Steve also explained the trends in virtual training he's observed recently. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote that inspires Steve (2:25) Steve's background (3:39) What virtual training means (5:02) The trends he's been seeing (6:31) How he's adapted to virtual training (10:58) What he's learned about the activities (13:53) Practical tips for virtual training (18:20) Where he sees virtual training going (24:59) What Gemba Academy offers (29:42) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Steve on LinkedIn What Do You Think? What has your experience been with virtual training?

This week's guest is Thomas Bertels. Ron and Thomas discussed how Thomas got into work design, how it relates to lean, and why intrinsic motivation is so critical. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Thomas likes (1:54) His background (2:52) How he got into work design (4:07) The link between work design and lean (5:34) Approaching work design (9:03) What happens when the culture isn't there (11:19) What intrinsic motivation entails (13:09) When to do work design (17:12) How work design has benefited his personal life (18:42) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Mojo Diagnostic Purpose Works What Do You Think? How do you use and/or benefit from intrinsic motivation at work?

This week's guest is Wendy Posillico. Ron and Wendy discussed her golf career, her company Live Your June, and the role of ethos and pathos in leadership. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Wendy's favorite quote (2:20) Her background (3:38) Whether she was good at golf at first (5:40) The defining moment (8:26) About her company Live Your June (11:49) A leadership example (16:48) The role of ethos (18:30) The role of pathos (21:42) Being an intentional leader (24:08) Practical advice from an athlete's perspective (28:32) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Wendy on Instagram Wendy on LinkedIn Live Your June Website Live Your June on Instagram What Do You Think? What does intentional leadership mean to you?

This week's guest is Ron Pereira. Ron talked about our TPM, or Total Productive Maintenance, content, and then shared a previous episode on TPM by Balaji Chandrasekar. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The improvements our content development team has made this year (0:28) About our TPM courses (1:25) Introduction to TPM (4:57) The Eight TPM Pillars 6:54) The benefits of practicing TPM (7:34) Approaching TPM (9:09) Measuring TPM Effectiveness (10:54) Perspectives for setting TPM goals (13:09) How TPM reduces costs (14:33) The quote Balaji wants to share (17:24) His background (18:35) A high-level overview of TPM (19:31) Some of the challenges he sees people face (21:39) His experience with each of the TPM Pillars (23:11) The challenges unique to TPM (24:42) A brief overview of all eight pillars  (27:21) About OEE, including tracking it (33:09) Measuring TPM maturity (36:53) Balaji's parting thoughts (39:41) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off GA 313 | The Eight Pillars of TPM with Balaji Chandrasekar Balaji on LinkedIn What Do You Think? What has your experience with TPM been like?

This week's guest is Calvin Williams. Ron and Calvin discussed his company Impruver, scientific thinking, and what it means to be a scientific leader. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Calvin wanted to share (2:32) His background and what he's up to (4:04) What "Impruver" means (7:02) About scientific leadership (8:47) What a scientific leader does (14:55) Becoming better at scientific thinking (19:40) The myths that keep leaders from improving (24:44) Bringing focus in times of uncertainty (29:04) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off GA 318 | Structuring Your Continuous Improvement Efforts with Calvin Williams Calvin on LinkedIn Impruver.com Scientific Leadership Webinar What Do You Think? What does scientific leadership mean to you?

This week's guest is Martina Kuhlmeyer. Ron and Martina talked about the true definition of culture, what it means to build lean into your company culture, and how to tell when things go awry. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Martina's favorite quote (2:08) Her background and what she's up to these days (2:48) Her take on lean culture (4:07) What "culture" means to Martina (6:05) How your identity plays into organizational culture (8:06) Building lean into the culture (11:31) Spotting when things aren't right (17:09) How strategic alignment can help (21:02) About Martina's company (22:56) Advice for those just getting started with lean (25:28) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Power Up Your Team Martina on LinkedIn What Do You Think? How else can you build lean into your company culture?

This week's guest is Dereck Williams. Ron and Dereck discussed Quality Management Systems, what they entail, and how to ensure your efforts are successful and sustainable. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Dereck likes (1:26) His background and what he's up to these days (2:31) About Quality Management Systems (5:30) The role lean plays in a QMS (7:04) Ensuring QMS doesn't become superficial (10:32) Some of the challenges that come with the certifications (14:08) The companies who don't get it (18:57) The difference in approach depending on the size of your company (20:34) Advice on getting started (22:22) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 AME Conference - Use Promo Code Gemba15 for 15% off Gamma Group What Do You Think? What has your experience been with Quality Management Systems?