Lean Blog Audio
Mark Graban
Lean Blog Audio features Mark Graban reading and expanding on LeanBlog.org posts. Explore real-world lessons on Lean thinking, psychological safety, continuous improvement, and performance metrics like Process Behavior Charts. Learn how leaders in healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond create cultures of learning, reduce fear, and drive better results.
Listen and learn: leanblog.org/audio
Listen and learn: leanblog.org/audio
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 18, 2017 • 12min
A Prototype For My "Two-Bin Hand Sanitizer" Concept
Does your healthcare organization struggle with keeping hand sanitizer dispensers full? Let me know what you think of this "two-bin kanban" system prototype from a vendor that might more forward on this...
May 16, 2017 • 7min
A Lesson From Toyota: Thanking Employees for Pointing
Thanks to Lean Frontiers for sharing a story from Mike Hoseus on LinkedIn. Mike is, of course, co-author of the excellent book Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way (written with Jeff Liker, who I just learned is retiring from the University of Michigan... more on that soon).
May 12, 2017 • 7min
3 Recent Audience Questions on Kaizen & Continuous Improvement
Here are three audience questions we didn't have time to address after a recent talk that I gave... questions about engaging people in improvement and about how to share and spread improvement ideas broadly.
May 11, 2017 • 8min
Reader Question: A Lone Wolf in #Lean Facilitator's Clothing
Today's reader question comes from somebody who has been put in the position of what I call "the lone wolf" in a health system. This happens a lot. A health system hires or designates one person to be "the Lean change agent." It doesn't matter how amazing and/or experienced this individual is... I'd very skeptical about the organization's Lean journey.
May 11, 2017 • 13min
Thoughts on "Good" vs. "Better" from My College Marching Band
What are the parallels between the mindsets and approach of a world-class university band director and our mindsets in Lean, Kaizen, and continuous improvement, in healthcare or beyond?
May 5, 2017 • 4min
The Good and the Bad of the United CEO's Follow Up to
It's good that United's CEO has taken responsibility for system problems. It's great that they are changing some policies. But why does he say they don't have a culture problem if employees aren't empowered? That sounds like "culture" and a "problem" to me.
May 4, 2017 • 15min
"Practicing Lean" as an Audio Book - First Half Now Available
I'm excited to announce that Practicing Lean is now available as an audio book... or least the first half is, but you can buy today.
May 4, 2017 • 7min
My LinkedIn Article: Supply Chain Matters - at the Oscars
The mistakes at The Oscars were trivial and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. What are some lessons learned that apply to improving healthcare supply chains?
Apr 30, 2017 • 3min
Don't Have Time for Meditation or Improvement? You Should...
If you don't have 20 minutes for meditation, you should.... do what? Does this classic Zen quote apply to Kaizen and continuous improvement?
Apr 26, 2017 • 7min
Reader Question: How Many People & How Much Time for...
A Lean-thinking physician from Canada asks how many people an organization or department should have in a dedicated Lean or continuous improvement function. How much time is needed from staff and managers?
