The Lean Solutions Podcast

This week on the podcast, I’m speaking with Paul Akers. Paul is an author, entrepreneur and the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for the professional builder. In this episode, Paul and I go over how Lean can be applied to improve your work environment and why you need to focus on small consistent changes when trying to make improvements. What You’ll Learn This Episode: How Lean helped Paul in Ironman FastCap and the inspiration behind the company The importance of listening to customers Making time to fix what’s bothering you 2 second improvement and why it’s simple The inspiration behind Paul’s videos What it takes to be a good leader in an organization with Lean culture Paul’s advice for someone just starting on their Lean journey About the Guest: Paul Akers is the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for the professional builder. FastCap was started in Paul’s garage in 1997 when he simply “fixed what bugged him” and developed his first product: the Fastcap Cover Cap. From humble beginnings, and no MBA, FastCap has thousands of distributors worldwide in over 40 countries. Paul’s intense curiosity on how things could be improved paved the way for him to become a prolific innovator and today he holds many US and International patents. FastCap launches approximately 20-30 innovative products per year and has won business of the year in 1999 and 2010. In June 2011 Paul won Seattle Business Magazine’s prestigious Business Executive of the Year award. He wrote his first book, 2 Second Lean, about creating a fun, Lean culture, that is now available in 15 languages. In 2015, he wrote his 2nd book, Lean Health, in 2016, he wrote Lean Travel and in 2019, he wrote Lean Life and Banish Sloppiness. In 2016, Paul’s book, 2 Second Lean, was recognized by the Shingo Institute and won the Research and Professional Publication Award. Important Links: https://paulakers.net/books/2-second-lean https://paulakers.net/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/2-second-lean-play/id1503694993 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.leanplay

This week I’m speaking with Felipe Engineer, a registered Scrum master and trainer. Felipe also leads the Lean construction program at McCarthy Building Companies and is the CEO and podcast host of the EBFC Show, which is dedicated to Lean construction. In this episode, Felipe and I go into detail about integrating Lean into construction. We also talk about Scrum, what it is and how Scrum can be used when you’re in the construction industry. What You’ll Learn This Episode: The importance of Lean in construction Felipe’s podcast, The EBFC show What is Scrum How you can use Scrum in design and construction Lean tools and techniques that are used on a construction site The argument that Lean is too academic How you can start improving your work today About the Guest: Felipe leads the Lean Construction program for McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Engineer-Manriquez is also the CEO and Host of The EBFC Show. The Easier, Better, for Construction Show allows people to make building easier and better share how. As a Registered Scrum Trainer™ (RST) endorsed by Dr. Jeff Sutherland, Felipe also co-created the Design and Construction Registered Scrum Master™ (RSM) curriculum with the Agile Education Program team. It enables RSM graduates to deliver construction project value and earn recognition in the International Registry of Agile Professionals™. Engineer-Manriquez is an active contributing member of the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) and is an approved instructor/facilitator and 2019 LCI Chairman’s Award recipient for contributions to the Institute and the design and construction industry as a whole. Important Links: https://www.theebfcshow.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/engineerfelipe/ https://constructionscrum.com/

This week I’m speaking with Andrew Van Breugel, an experienced manufacturing professional with a diverse range of skills and Lean experience that  extends to plant management, operations management, product development, manufacture and quality. In this episode, Andrew and I speak about sustainability and leadership in Lean and how leaders can develop their leadership skills and also help their team with executing sustainable Lean culture. What You’ll Learn This Episode: Should Lean leaders be striving for more How leaders can develop their skills Tips on how leaders can help develop their leadership skills How to help create sustainability in Lean and Lean culture Some of the main factors in failure Vision statements and how to get them executed Communicating continuous improvement to your team The importance of personal development for leaders Leader Standard Work Lean and time management About the Guest: Andrew Van Breugel is an experienced manufacturing professional with a diverse range of skills covering analytical chemistry, product quality, product development, manufacturing, process chemistry, technical sales, business improvement and general operations management in various Asia Pacific and Europe, having tertiary qualifications in science (chemistry), business and accounting. Andrew’s experience extends to plant management, operations management, product development, manufacture and quality. Andrew has been directly responsible for business operations analysis, business improvement using Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing and the Toyota Production System and is a certified Evaluator with the Australian Business Excellence awards and a certified Assessor with the Singapore Quality Awards. In positions ranging from Operational Excellence Manager to COO of manufacturing organizations, Andrew has spent many years considering the effectiveness of and the role of senior leadership in lean deployments. Important Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-van-breugel-a514927 https://www.thinkrci.com/ avanbreugel@thinkrci.com

This week I’m sharing some of the interviews and chats I got to have during my time at the 2021 Operational Excellence Summit in the State of Nebraska.  I got the opportunity to speak with multiple leaders in the Lean and Operational Excellence community and I’m excited to share my interviews with you today. The state of Nebraska launched the Center of Operational Excellence in 2016 to change the culture in state government and train state teammates in Process Improvement. Since May 2016, the COE has facilitated 575 process improvement projects, saving over 630,000 of work that has led to being able to put more of a focus on customer service. What You’ll Learn This Episode: Working in Nebraska State Government and how Lean as been implemented How Lean saves for taxpayers Some of the upcoming projects in the state of Nebraska Success stories from the state of Nebraska About the 2021 Operational Excellence Summit: The 2021 Operational Excellence Summit convenes leaders and change agents from the State of Nebraska to discuss the opportunities to build upon the success the Center of Operational Excellence has had. The Summit is a unique chance for leaders who share a passion for continuous improvement to get together and exchange ideas. Important Links: https://das.nebraska.gov/coe/

This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Chris Burnham. Chris has twenty years of experience with learning and coaching Lean and Continuous Improvement principles and his career has spanned a variety of roles from front-line servant leader to responsibility for Global Continuous Improvement Programs. Chris is also the host of The Lean Leadership Podcast. In this episode, Chris and I talk about growing technology in Lean and continuous improvement and how leaders and teams can adapt to the changes. What You’ll Learn This Episode: How leaders and technology can work together What makes a great lean leader and how leaders are changing What it take for organizations to see Process Improvement as a necessary part of the organization Diagnosing when technology is holding back your organization when it comes to continuous improvement Why you need to be adaptive How technology is changing the work environment About the Guest: Chris Burnham has twenty years of experience with learning and coaching Lean and Continuous Improvement principles. His career has spanned a variety of roles from front-line servant leader to responsibility for Global Continuous Improvement Programs. Chris has had the opportunity to work with a diverse group of industries, including manufacturing and fulfillment, financial services, food and beverage, and medical devices. Many of the companies that Chris has worked with are brands that you would recognize every day. Chris’ passion is helping organizations and teams build cultures of problem solvers that engage every employee in the work of improvement. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt and holds his B.S. from Western Carolina University. Chris has been the host of The Lean Leadership Podcast since 2105. He is currently Senior Director, Lean Strategy at KaiNexus, a software company based in Austin, Texas, whose mission is to Spread Continuous Improvement. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/realburnham IG: @LeanPodcastHost Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/chrisburnham The Lean Leadership Podcast: https://leanleadershippodcast.com KaiNexus: https://kainexus.com

This week I am chatting with Tony Hayes, an executive lean leader responsible for the Wabash management system, continuous improvement and quality at Wabash. In this episode, Tony and I talk about his experience with Lean and Lean culture as well as transformation and why it’s so important to create a story around transformation with Lean. What You’ll Learn This Episode: What makes a good Lean leader The characteristics of a bad Lean leader How to effectively scale during a transformation Spreading Lean culture in a large organization Creating development opportunities for leaders Having a dedicated lean team vs. having lean embedded in the organization Creating a story around why you’re changing The importance of creating a learning culture Problem solving in Lean culture About the Guest: Tony Hayes is an Executive Lean Leader, responsible for the Wabash Management System, Continuous Improvement and Quality at Wabash, supporting the CEO and the Executive Leadership Team, driving customer value creation. He has extensive experience in delivering profitable growth, improving risk profile, and increasing return on invested capital in the automotive, transportation, aerospace and defense industries. Tony is a seasoned operations and lean expert with extensive experience in strategy and organizational governance. Tony has utilized his lean expertise to assist organizations with their most complex problems in manufacturing, engineering, material planning and logistics, value chain management, and quality. As Global Lean Leader, Supply Chain at GE Transportation a Wabtec Company, a $11 billion operation, Tony was responsible for developing and driving the strategic vision of global continuous improvement  across the enterprise. As the Ford Production System (FPS) Lean Implementation Manager – North American Car Region at Ford, Tony was instrumental in Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant’s journey to receiving the Shingo Prize, the highest standard for organizational excellence. Tony, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He also holds a Master of Science in Manufacturing Management, a Master of Science in Operations Management, and a Master of Business Administration, all obtained from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. In addition, Tony is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and is certified through University of Michigan in Lean Manufacturing and Operations, as well as Lean Office and Service, in addition to being a Shingo Institute Alumni. Important Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyhayes

This week on the podcast, I am speaking with Lee Campe.  Lee is the President of Performance Excellence Inc. and a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt. In this episode, Lee and I talk about his extensive training and experiences in Lean Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma. We also talk about the importance of maintaining high standards in Lean Six Sigma and advice on training in LSS. What You’ll Learn This Episode: What frustrates Lee about the current Lean Six Sigma offerings, or the current Lean Six Sigma environment Lean and Six Sigma in the Army and how it transitioned to the civilian world Highlights Lee has had with his time using Lean Advice for leaders who don’t feel like they’re engaged in the process Why leaders need to remove roadblocks The importance of using phone for communication instead of relying on email MDAIC vs DMAIC Recommendations on certifying bodies How companies can maintain or enforce higher standards of Lean Six Sigma Why you need to have the people skills that are necessary in order to be a good problem solver in order to be a good lean practitioner. About the Guest: Lee Campe is a proven Lean Six Sigma deployment leader with a wide array of expertise in all facets of business and Continuous Improvement. He also is one of the few instructors with extensive experience in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and Innovation through design thinking. Prior to starting Performance Excellence, Lee was a Master Black Belt (MBB) for the Home Depot, where he was responsible for coaching employees and mentoring projects across the US. Projects Lee mentored provided the company with over $200 million in Savings. Prior to the Home Depot, Lee was the Vice President and Master Black Belt for JP Morgan Chase in New York. His responsibilities included coaching and training Champions, Black Belts, Green Belts, and management in the DMAIC and DFSS methodologies. During his tenure, Lee trained over 100 Champions and mentored three enterprise-wide projects that identified over $20 Million in potential savings. As an MBB and Director at Cordis Corporation, a $1.3 billion Johnson and Johnson company, Lee was responsible for driving the implementation of Six Sigma company wide. Previously, Lee worked as an MBB for General Electric Power Systems (GEPS) where he trained employees at all levels on GE’s Six Sigma programs. Important Links: https://leecampe.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecampe Lean Six Sigma Book

This week on the podcast, I am speaking with Jim Vinoski, a writer, manufacturing advocate and Lean expert with a focus in engineering, operations and management. In this episode, Jim and I talk about Lean in manufacturing and how leaders can involve and excite their team when it comes to implementing Lean.  We also talk about some of the important lessons and tips Jim has for someone just starting out in Lean. What You’ll Learn This Episode: Jim’s best and worst lean experiences The culture of continuous appearance, what it is and how to avoid it How leaders can engage and involve their whole team Why ego is a big problem Why it’s important to be a student of Lean all the time Jim’s advice for people just starting their Lean journey About the Guest: Jim Vinoski has spent his entire three-decade career in manufacturing, in products ranging from paints and plastics to food and bourbon. His focus has been in engineering, operations, and management. He’s a veteran of companies large and small, including Ralston-Purina and General Mills. As a Contributor for Forbes, Jim has published over 200 articles covering all facets of manufacturing and supply chain. He’s explored a variety of topics in his column there: the success stories of numerous American manufacturers; the war for talent; and the amazing innovations in our advanced technologies, such as 3D printing, bioengineering, and artificial intelligence. Jim lives with his wife and two teenage sons in Grandville, Michigan. Important Links: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/?sh=76a0014b2a97 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimvinoski

This week on the podcast, I am speaking with Matthew Singh.  Matthew is the Director of Operational Excellence and Master Black Belt for the Department of Administrative Services in the state of Nebraska and has 20 years of experience in progressive management roles. In this episode, Matt and I talk about Operational Excellence, his work in the state of Nebraska and the importance of listening to the voice of the customer as a leader. What You’ll Learn This Episode: How Matt got his start with Operational Excellence and Lean The importance of Voice of the Customer Building a culture of innovation The importance of asking for help as a team leader Why you need to understand the “why” behind Operational Excellence Nebraska and how the state is tackling Operational Excellence About the Guest: Matt Sing is the Director of Operational Excellence and Master Black Belt for the Department of Administrative Services in the state of Nebraska. Over the last 20 years he has previously served in a variety of progressive management roles including sales & service, operations, and supply chain. He is also certified as a Master Black Belt in Six Sigma, Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma, Certified Lean Sensei, and holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. Singh is a member of the advisory board of directors for the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC). He also serves on the University of Nebraska- Omaha advisory board of directors for their Supply Chain Management Programs. He holds the honor of being featured as a key stakeholder in a Harvard case study that is used by Harvard’s executive education program to teach others throughout the world  about process improvement. Singh is involved with his local church in Gretna Nebraska where he lives with his wife Erin and their two children. Important Links: https://das.nebraska.gov/coe/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-singh-mba-ms-mbb-pmp-2512b463/

On this week’s episode, I’m talking with Valorie Hendrix, the owner and consultant of Dynamic Empire Consulting. Valorie has over five years of working in different areas of project management, including cost reduction, Value Engineering, quality management, and Lean and Six Sigma. During this episode, Valorie and I talk about Value Engineering and Value Analysis, what it is and how you can integrate it into your organization. What You’ll Learn This Episode: What is VA/VE How your organization can get value in using VA/VE When to use VA/VE in your product development Can VA/VE be used with services? The tools and templates needed to work with VA/VE Using a tool set to identify waste within process When a business should implement VA/VE on their Lean journey Resources for VA/VE methodology Why Valorie wrote her book and how she started with VA/VE About the Guest: While finishing up the senior year of her undergraduate degree for Business Administration, Valorie Hendrix discovered Lean Six Sigma and Toyota Production System in her operations management class. After reading the chapter for continuous improvement, she knew this is what she was going to do to make a contribution to society. After graduating with her undergraduate degree, Valorie spent 10 years in Aluminum Boat Manufacturing. Starting as an accountant, she learned about the cost. During the 2008 Recession, she became a VA/VE engineer to help reduce costs and create higher functions so products would be more attractive to customers during this harsh time. Valorie completed her MBA from Webster University, the same time that the recession was ending. Allowing for more opportunities for more positions within the organization to open up. She then worked in Quality Assurance and Control and Lean Six Sigma Engineer until making the leap to become a business owner. Valorie is also the author of Streamlining Function and Value. Important Links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1685248314/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_71WNQG03BKF2HKX3CMRH https://dynamicempireconsulting.com/