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

This week's guest is Alfonso Aramburo. Ron and Alfonso discussed Alfonso's experiences with turnarounds, leadership styles, balancing financial restructuring and operational excellence, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote that Alfonso likes (3:22) His background (4:20) How he helps organizations turn things around (7:34) What his role was (13:56) Balancing financial restructuring with operation excellence (14:26) The role that lean can and can't play in turnarounds (18:07) What Alfonso has seen from leaders (20:32) What he would change about his career and what he's proud of (23:40) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Alfonso 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? Have you witnessed or experienced an organization execute a turnaround? Describe it.

This week's guest is Fabrice Desmarescaux. Ron and Fabrice discussed Fabrice's journey towards professional fulfillment and how he helps others find purpose in their life's work. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quotes Fabrice likes (4:32) His background (6:04) How Fabrice discovered he felt unfulfilled (9:27) What's contributing to this crisis (13:21) Encouraging others to tap into their purpose (16:58) Finding value and fulfillment (22:04) About his book The Art of Retreats (27:05) Embracing silence (29:50) Being kind to yourself (34:56) Being patient with the transformation (36:01) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Fabrice on LinkedIn The Art of Retreats Drive by Daniel Pink Fabrice's 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 do you find purpose in your work?

This week's guest is Alen Ganic. Ron and Alen, a Senior Lean and Six Sigma Coach at Gemba Academy, discussed the definitions of flow efficiency and resource efficiency, what differentiates them, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Alen's favorite quote (2:29) His background (4:02) What Alen means by "flow" (6:46) The definition of Flow Efficiency and Resource Efficiency (9:24) A paint booth example (16:17) The key things that differentiate Flow Efficiency and Resource Efficiency (19:30) Advice for someone who is just getting started (26:09) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Alen on LinkedIn GA 067 | Lean Dentistry with Dr. Sami Bahri, DDS GA 521 | Celebrating Quick Wins with Alen Ganic 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? Which one should be prioritized, flow efficiency or resource efficiency?

This week's guest is Adam Lawrence. Ron and Adam discussed the Wheel of Sustainability, how it plays into a kaizen event, and how improv can also be a powerful tool in a rapid improvement context. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  His favorite quote (3:45) His background (5:35) The Wheel of Sustainability (6:11) The intention behind the placement (11:39) Whether some are more important than others (12:36) How the Wheel of Sustainability plays into a rapid improvement event (15:20) Using improv during these events (17:10) The future of the lean and continuous improvement movement (27:37) Some upcoming conferences Adam will be speaking at (29:46) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Wheel of Sustainability PDF The Wheel of Sustainability on Amazon Adam's Past Gemba Academy Episodes Adam on LinkedIn Adam's 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? What is your initial reaction to the idea of improv being used in a kaizen event?

This week's guest is Ron Crabtree. The two Rons discussed the concept of digital transformation, or digitization, including what it entails, how to navigate these transformations, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Ron likes (2:54) His background (3:22) What a digital transformation or "digitization" means (7:47) An anecdote about a decal manufacturer (11:31) Ron's thoughts on where to start (13:15) The three things to think about first (20:14) His parting thoughts (24:50) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Gemba Academy Live Events Ron on LinkedIn MetaExperts MetaPod 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 digitization look like to you?

This week's guest is Ron Pereira. Ron introduced the Gemba Academy School of Leadership and shared the audio from some of this exciting new content. Be sure to check the show notes to watch the video versions. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Change Management (1:49) Leading Teams (7:58) Adaptive Leadership (14:57) Facilitation (21:15) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 What Is Change Management? What Is a High-Performance Team? Getting Started with Adaptive Leadership  What Is Facilitation? 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? Which of these four leadership concepts resonates with you the most?

This week's guest is Chris Fuzie. Ron and Chris discussed Chris's books, liminal space, tessellation, leadership, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Chris likes (3:22) His background (4:23) About liminal space and leadership (12:08) Optimizing the liminal space (14:07) Giving and receiving feedback (17:29) Chris's insights on how leadership is evolving (18:30) About tessellation and leadership behaviors (23:07) Why it makes companies more efficient (32:14) How Chris thinks liminal space and tessellation work together (34:01) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Chris's Website Because...Why?: Understanding Behavior in Exigencies S.C.O.R.E. Performance Counseling: Save the Relationship, Change the Behavior Liminal Space: Reshaping Leadership and Followership Chris on LinkedIn Chris on X Chris 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? Have you heard of liminal space and tessellation before? In what context?

This week's guest is Jacob Stoller. Ron and Jacob discussed Jacob's upcoming book, "Productivity Reimagined," what it means to be productive, what productivity looks like in different industries, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Jacob's favorite quote (1:58) Jacob's background (3:30) Why he wrote "Productivity Reimagined" (5:48) His angle on productivity (8:48) Some of the "ah-ha" moments (10:05) Tips for those who don't produce widgets (13:09) Jacob's advice (22:27) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Jacob on LinkedIn Jacob's Website Pre-Order "Productivity Reimagined" on Amazon 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 productivity look like to you?

This week's guest is Nina Sossamon-Pogue. Ron and Nina discussed Nina's gymnastic career, focusing on the process vs. successes, values like discipline, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Nina likes (2:46) Her background (3:11) About her gymnastics career (6:02) Whether or not she regrets the sacrifices she made (8:38) How she started thinking about life outside gymnastics (11:38) About the "high achievers success cycle" (16:05) Focusing on the process vs. the success cycle (20:42) Perseverance vs. discipline (26:33) About the "highs" (29:09) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Nina on LinkedIn Nina on Instagram 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 you relate to the High Achievers Success Cycle?

This week's guest is Gary Cihak. Ron and Gary discussed what it takes to build a Lean and Six Sigma program, the Job Instruction component of TWI, why 5S isn't just a series of chores, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Gary likes (2:20) His background and what he's up to these days (3:04) The early phases and building blocks (5:27) His experience with the Job Instruction component of TWI (6:06) Viewing 5S as more than just a chore (8:18) What Gary is most proud of (13:16) Practical tips for someone new to continuous improvement (15:29) When Gary first "saw the light" (17:11) Advice for when continuous improvement feels like a grind (18:16) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Northern Illinois Food Bank Gary 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 has your experience been with either building or participating in a new Lean and/or Six Sigma initiative?