Lean Blog Interviews

Welcome to this bonus session of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast, originally recorded as a LinkedIn Live event! In this conversation, I partnered with Rebecca Michalik from AME Australia to discuss my upcoming workshops in Australia and New Zealand in March 2025. Episode page with video, transcript, and more We’ll dive into key themes like psychological safety as a foundation for continuous improvement and how to make smarter use of performance metrics through process behavior charts. Even if you’re outside Australia or New Zealand, the principles and practical examples we discuss have universal applications for leaders and organizations worldwide. If you're interested in learning more about the workshops, click here. Key Questions: What is the purpose of the AME Australia roadshow, and what will attendees gain from it? Why is psychological safety critical for Lean and continuous improvement? How can leaders create an environment where employees feel safe to speak up? What are process behavior

My guest for Episode #521 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is  José R. Ferro, PhD, a Senior Advisor with the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Founder and President, Lean Institute Brasil. Episode page with video, transcript, and more By founding Lean Institute Brasil in 1999 to disseminate the principles and practices of lean thinking to Brazilian companies, Ferro helped catalyze a global movement to establish lean institutes in other countries, which ultimately grew into the Lean Global Network, chartered in 2007. In the late eighties, he was a visiting scholar in MIT’s International Motor Vehicle Research Program (IMVP), which introduced the term “lean” to describe Toyota’s revolutionary management system. Ferro received PhD and master’s degrees in business administration, Getulio Vargas Foundation, and production engineering from the University of São Paulo in São Carlos. His new book, Daily Management to Execute Strategy: Solving problems and developing people every day, is available now. I

My guest for Episode #520 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bill Remy, CEO of TBM Consulting.  Episode page with video, transcript, and more Bill is both an accomplished business executive and leader who is frequently called upon for his credible voice, honesty, and pragmatism — and for his ability to leverage operational excellence and continuous improvement for long-term profitable growth.  As former president of Thayer Aerospace, Bill doubled revenue in six years, expanded into Mexico, improved profitability, and increased inventory turns. He integrated the supply chain into a web-based pull system, consolidated divisions, and implemented an ERP system.  Earlier in his career, Bill held progressively responsible roles in operations, including Vice President of Continuous Improvement at Invensys, Vice President of Operations at Learjet/Bombardier, Production Manager at Lockheed Arizona Missile Facility, and Materials Manager at Allied-Signal Aerospace. Bill holds both a Master of Science and B

My guest for Episode #519 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jarvis Gray, the Managing Director of The Quality Coaching Co. He offers more than 16 years of strategic planning, quality improvement, and operations leadership experience in the healthcare industry.  Episode page with video, transcript, and more Through his firm, The Quality Coaching Co., Jarvis and his associates help healthcare organizations foster cultures of system-wide quality improvement by offering customized Lean Six Sigma coaching, training, and certification programs centered on improving the quality of their care delivery services and health outcomes, eliminating waste and achieving cost reductions, and enhancing the patient experience. He's the host of the Excellence in Healthcare podcast (where I have been a guest). His new book is MASTERING HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE: A Leader’s Guide to Getting World-Class Results by Aligning People, Priorities, and Processes. In this episode, we explored how to build a sustainable culture of

My guest for Episode #518 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jerry Wright, author of the new book The Insanity Trap: What Your MRP Consultant Won't Tell You. Jerry M. Wright, PE, MBA, is an accomplished operations executive and teaching professional with over 39 years of experience in the manufacturing and service sectors.  His extensive career spans various industries, including aerospace, consumer goods, healthcare, medical devices, diagnostics, and industrial sectors, where he has held leadership roles in engineering, operations, quality assurance, and operational excellence (OpEx).  He is an expert on taking businesses from MRP "insanity" to Pull Systems (Kanban) and driving operational excellence through the implementation of Toyota Production Systems (TPS/Lean) tools and methods. He's a Master Black Belt and only the 7th person in the world to receive the Lean Gold Certification (LGC) from the joint alliance of ASQ, AME, SME, and the Shingo Institute. In this episode, Jerry shares his ins

My guest for this bonus episode of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bruce Hamilton, who is joining me on the show for the first time. Bruce is a renowned figure in the Lean world, serving as the President of GBMP Consulting Group and Director Emeritus for the Shingo Institute. As a senior examiner and certified workshop facilitator for the Shingo Prize, Bruce brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is also a past recipient of the Shingo Prize in both business and academic categories and has been inducted into both the Shingo Academy and the AME Manufacturing Hall of Fame. During our conversation, Bruce reflects on two major milestones: the 25th anniversary of the now-classic "Toast Kaizen" video and the 20th year of GBMP's Northeast Lean Conference. He shares the humble beginnings of "Toast Kaizen," filmed in his kitchen with the help of his two-month-old son, and its unexpected success. We also discuss the evolution of the Northeast Lean Conference, from its modest start to an event that now

My guest for Episode #517 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jacob Stoller, a journalist, speaker, facilitator, and Shingo-Prize-winning author of The Lean CEO. We talked about that in Episode 221. Episode page with video, transcript, and more His latest book, Productivity Reimagined: Shattering Performance Myths to Achieve Sustainable Growth, was just released by Wiley on October 8th, 2024.  Jacob has published hundreds of articles on technology and business management methods, and is known for demystifying complex topics for general business audiences. Jacob has delivered a variety of keynote speeches and learning events workshops in Canada, Europe, and the US, and authored reports, created training materials, and strategic corporate documents for clients such as Microsoft, Dell Computer, Staples, Pitney Bowes, International Data Corporation (IDC), CMA Canada, and the Conference Board of Canada. In this episode, the discussion focuses on debunking common myths about productivity and exploring how

In this episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban welcomes Roberto Priolo, the Managing Editor of Planet Lean, the publication of the Lean Global Network. Based in Barcelona, Roberto has a background in journalism and extensive experience in covering Lean and continuous improvement topics. Mark and Roberto discuss the upcoming Lean Global Connection event, happening on November 21st and 22nd, 2024, which is a free, 24-hour virtual event designed to bring together the global Lean community. Episode page with transcript, video, and more Key Topics Discussed: The Origins of the Lean Global Connection Event: Roberto explains how the event began during the pandemic as a way to connect Lean practitioners worldwide when in-person gatherings were impossible. Now in its fourth year, the event continues to thrive, attracting speakers and attendees from over 120 countries. What to Expect at the 2024 Event: This year’s theme, “Developing Adaptiveness in a Changing World,” addresses how Lean can help organizations na

My guest for Episode #516 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jenn Christison, founder and principal consultant at Seven Ways Consulting. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Jenn has spent more than 15 years leading continuous improvement efforts across a variety of industries, including aerospace manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, pharma, and tech. Guided by the principles of Respect for People and Continuous Improvement, Jenn brings a wealth of experience to her work, helping organizations achieve meaningful transformation. Jenn’s journey began with a desire to change the world as a teacher, social worker, or stand-up comedian. discovered my biggest impact could be made leading organizational transformation. Jenn is also the author of the new book Even Better Leadership: Provocative Reflections to Guide Improvement and continues to embrace her stand-up comedy roots — if you know where to look. We’re thrilled to have her on the show today to share her insights and experiences. In th

My guest for Episode #515 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jim Morgan, senior advisor at Lean Enterprise Institute and a board member at Adrian Steel. Jim’s most recent industry experience was as Chief Operating Officer at Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer. Episode page with video, transcript, and more He was previously a guest in Episode 109 back in 2011. Before joining Rivian, Jim spent a little over ten years at Ford Motor Company. He began by leading the development of the Global Product Development System (GPDS).  He then served the last nine years as Director of Global Body and SBU Engineering and Tooling operations, where he and his team contributed to the company’s historic, product-led revitalization under then-CEO Alan Mulally.    Prior to Ford, Jim served as Vice President of Operations at Troy Design and Manufacturing (TDM), a tier-one global automotive supplier of engineering services, prototype tools, and low to medium-volume production parts and subassemblies.  Jim holds

My guest for Episode #514 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Hugh Alley, an author and consultant. He divides his time between coaching senior operational leaders in continuous improvement, training front-line leaders in core supervisory skills, and designing industrial facilities.  An industrial engineer, he has run three manufacturing and distribution firms, and a department in a government agency, teaching skills to over 1,000 front-line leaders.  He has written two books: Becoming the Supervisor: Achieving Your Company's Mission and Building Your Team, and The TWI Memory Jogger. He frequently speaks about supervision, quality, lean manufacturing, and Toyota Kata. From his home near Vancouver, Canada, he helps clients across North America. In today's episode, we explore the power of TWI (Training Within Industry), its impact on building trust and improving workplace culture, and stories of real-world applications in manufacturing and sports. From reducing cycle times to fostering better leader

My guests for Episode #512 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast are two of three co-authors of the upcoming book “Leading Excellence: 5 Hats of the Adaptive Leader” - Brad Jeavons and Stephen Dargan. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Stephen Dargan A diverse and inclusive, customer-centric, driven transformational leader with 20+ years of leadership experience spanning Australia and Europe. Stephen is a Shingo Institute Alumni, Shingo Facilitator and Examiner. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Brad Jeavons Brad Jeavons is a senior leadership coach focused on helping improve themselves and their organisations to create a better future economically, socially and environmentally for future generations. He is host of the Enterprise Excellence Podcast and Community and author of the book Agile Sales: Delivering Customer Journeys of Value and Delight. Brad was a guest back in episode 416, June 2021. In this episode, Brad

My guests for Episode #512 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast are Steve Pereira and Andrew Davis, authors of the new book Flow Engineering: From Value Stream Mapping to Effective Action. Blog post with video, transcript, and more Steve Pereira has spent over two decades improving workflow across various organizations. His experience spans tech support, IT management, platform and infrastructure engineering, product management, and serving as a founding CTO for an enterprise SaaS company. Currently, he is the CEO of Visible Consulting, COO of the Value Stream Management Consortium, and co-founder of the Flow Collective. Andrew Davis is the Chief Product Officer at AutoRABIT and the author of "Mastering Salesforce DevOps." With a background as a Salesforce architect, developer, and product leader, Andrew focuses on the human side of software development. He spent 15 years as a Buddhist monk, teaching meditation and personal transformation, and now studies the intersection of business, technology, and psyc

In this special live-streamed bonus episode of the Lean Blog Interviews podcast, host Mark Graban is joined by Paul Critchley for an impromptu experiment in recording a live podcast. The episode begins with a brief introduction and a discussion about the decision to try a live format. Paul Critchley, a seasoned Lean consultant, shares his background, detailing his journey from a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry to his current role as a Lean practitioner and consultant. He highlights his experiences working with Toyota and Pratt & Whitney, emphasizing the practical application of Lean principles in various industries, including aerospace. Summit info: https://newenglandleanconsulting.com/summit/  The conversation then shifts to Paul's upcoming event, the New England Lean Summit, scheduled for September 12-13, 2024, in Cromwell, Connecticut. Paul discusses the summit's agenda, which includes workshops, sessions, and a Lean Happy Hour. He expresses his excitement about bringing together Lean pr

My guest for Episode #511 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Sam Yankelevitch, a distinguished global operations executive who has dedicated his career to advancing Lean principles, effective communication, and innovative problem-solving. Sam's journey began with managing international projects and optimizing processes in various industries. His expertise and passion for continuous improvement have made him a sought-after speaker, workshop trainer, and corporate coach. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Sam is one of the speakers and facilitators at the upcoming Global Lean Summit Event, being held in Indiana this September. Since 2014, Sam has leveraged his vast knowledge by producing popular online courses that have reached over 500,000 students worldwide. His contributions to LinkedIn Learning include highly-regarded courses such as "Root Cause Analysis" and "Improve Communication Using Lean Thinking." Sam's ability to distill complex concepts into actionable insights has earned him a d

My guest for Episode #510 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Karen Martin, Founder and CEO of TKMG and TKMG Academy, appearing for the fifth time. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She is the author of books including The Outstanding Organization, Clarity First, and Value Stream Mapping. In this episode, we discuss mistake-proofing in lean practices, exploring its significance in various industries. The conversation begins with a light-hearted discussion about the "five-timers club" and Mark's "ZERO hat" from the Patient Safety Movement Foundation, which symbolizes the goal of zero harm in healthcare. Karen shares her extensive background in quality improvement and lean management systems, emphasizing the importance of building quality at the source. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and the Toyota Production System, Karen and Mark discuss the psychological impact of striving for zero harm, debating whether it is an inspiring goal or potentially demotivating. The episo

I'm very happy to be participating in Jared Thatcher‘s “Global Lean Summit” event this September in Indiana. I'll be there to network and learn, which includes time visiting a Toyota Material Handling factory (an entire day!) I'll be speaking and facilitating: A workshop on Psychological Safety as a Foundation for continuous improvement A learning session featuring Dr. Deming's “Red Bead Game“ A fun keynote talk on warning signs and mistake-proofing Learn more and register Here's a 13-minute conversation that I had with Jared about the event.

My guest for Episode #509 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Ankit Patel, the founder of My Business Care Team, a BPO company providing services for optometrists, and co-founder with his wife Classic Vision Care, an optometry group in Atlanta. Episode page with transcript and more With a strong background in Lean methodology, Ankit has worked as a Lean consultant at Dell and the Cleveland Clinic, driving process improvements and coaching executives.  He holds a Master's degree in Positive Organizational Development and a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering.  Recognizing talent acquisition challenges, Ankit partnered with a Filipino team to source skilled, cost-effective staff for various business functions. He now leverages AI for hiring and automation to optimize his optometry practice and BPO services, applying Lean principles to drive efficiency and growth. In this episode, Ankit shares insights from his journey, starting as a lean consultant at Dell and the Cleveland Clinic, and transitionin

My guest for Episode #508 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Mike Hoseus, Executive Director of the Center for Quality People and Organizations and President of Lean Culture Enterprises. Episode page with video, transcript, and more He supports organizations in their lean journey, focusing on leadership and cultural aspects of the lean transformation. He is an adjunct professor with the University of Kentucky's Center for Manufacturing. Michael Hoseus developed his TPS skills at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, where he worked at the General Manager level in both Production and Human Resources, being mentored by his Japanese sensei. His Toyota process experience includes production, engineering, maintenance, safety, personnel, employee relations, benefits/payroll and training and development. He learned first-hand how Toyota's success hinges on integrating their production and human systems to create the Toyota Way.  He's co-author, with Jeff Liker, of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota

My guest for Episode #507 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Wendy K. Smith, co-author of the book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. She’s also one of the keynote speakers at this year's AME (Association for Manufacturing Excellence) annual conference. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Enter to win a copy of the book! Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson professor of management and faculty director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. She earned her PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands. Working with executives globally, she has been a noted keynote speaker and teacher for audiences worldwide. Her research, published among the top journals in the field, has received numerous awards, including the Web of S