Here's a musical holiday treat for my regular Lean Blog readers and podcast listeners, a song parody, originally released in 2009... remastered a bit in 2022.

https://www.leanblog.org/2022/12/gemba-claus-comin-town-song/

Lyrics by Mark Graban Performance by Steve Sholtes

Oh, you'd better watch out You'd better kaizen You'd better not pout, I'm tellin' ya then Gemba Claus is comin' to town

He's making a list Just checking it once Doin' it twice would waste a whole bunch Gemba Clause is comin' to town

He sees you when you're waitin' He knows when your work flows He knows if changeovers are too long So do SMED for goodness sake

Oh, you'd watch out You'd better not pause You'd better not pout Find the real root cause Gemba Claus is comin' to Town!

For voiceover work, music, or more, you can contact Steve via his website, www.stevesholtes.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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.

• 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 charts, and why are they a better way to understand performance metrics?
• Can you share examples of organizations that have successfully applied these principles?
• What are some actionable steps attendees can implement immediately after the workshops?
• Why is in-person learning particularly valuable for these topics?
• How do you see these topics applying universally, regardless of industry or location?
• What lessons have you learned in your career that you think every leader should know?
• What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about attending?

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.

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.

In today's episode, José will share practical insights on how to integrate daily management with strategy, the critical role of psychological safety in fostering problem-solving and improvement, and lessons learned from decades of leadership and Lean practice.

So, stay tuned for an engaging conversation about Lean, leadership, and creating cultures that thrive on continuous learning and improvement!

• José's Lean Origin Story: How did you first encounter Toyota-related practices, even before the term “Lean” was coined?
• Initial Impressions: What was your perspective on Lean’s balance between efficiency and a humane approach in its early days?
• Brazil’s Lean Journey: How did the opening of markets in the 1990s influence Lean adoption in Brazil across industries?
• Daily Management Framework: How do you define daily management, and what are its key elements?
• Challenges of Implementation: Why is there often a gap between technical Lean tools and the social aspects like leadership and problem-solving?
• The Book’s Framework: Can you explain the three foundational blocks of daily management from your book?
• Leadership's Role: What’s the leader’s role in connecting strategy to daily execution?
• Psychological Safety: Why is psychological safety so foundational, and how does it coexist with challenging environments?
• Problem-Solving Integration: How can organizations better connect daily huddles with deeper problem-solving efforts?
• Examples in Practice: Can you share real-world examples of organizations successfully applying your daily management framework?
• Future Vision: Where do you see opportunities for Lean to grow in Brazil or globally, especially in non-traditional sectors?

The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.