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.

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 excellence in healthcare by aligning people, priorities, and processes. We discussed the importance of integrating Lean Six Sigma principles with data-driven decision-making to improve patient outcomes and streamline operations.

Jarvis shared insights on establishing frameworks for healthcare excellence, including data cataloging and dashboarding, to track and leverage key metrics. We also delved into the evolving roles within healthcare quality improvement, the lessons learned from working closely with healthcare professionals, and the unique challenges of managing patient-centered processes. Lastly, we touched on his experience as a business owner, applying continuous improvement to his own consulting practice and the value of disciplined operations in achieving long-term success.

• What’s your origin story with quality, Lean Six Sigma, and healthcare?
• How did Florida Power & Light's quality culture and Deming Award influence your approach?
• What’s changed in the role of “management engineer” in healthcare since you entered the field?
• When did you start the Quality Coaching Company, and what led to that decision?
• What’s the central message or goal of your new book, Mastering Healthcare Excellence?
• How do you use data in healthcare to achieve excellence, and what tools do you recommend?
• What’s the healthcare excellence business model you promote in the book?
• Can safety or quality serve as a competitive advantage in healthcare? Any examples?
• What key lessons have you learned from healthcare professionals as an engineer?
• Do you have an example of aligning people, priorities, and processes effectively in healthcare?
• What improvements have you made in your own business from lessons learned in coaching?
• For consultants and coaches, what small business coaching insights have helped you?

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 #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 insights and hard-earned lessons about the pitfalls and inefficiencies of Material Requirements Planning (MRP). Jerry reflects on his career, starting with his early Lean experiences at Kimberly Clark, where he encountered the challenges of forecasting, production scheduling, and the recurring "insanity trap" of MRP. He discusses the implementation of Kanban systems, the impact on inventory management, and how turning off MRP systems helped teams dramatically reduce shortages and excess inventory.

Through real-life examples, Jerry illustrates how companies can shift from traditional MRP-driven processes to more effective demand-driven and Kanban-based systems, leading to operational improvements, better employee engagement, and more reliable supply chains. The episode also touches on the psychology of change management, navigating the resistance from those invested in outdated systems, and how leadership can foster a more adaptive, efficient environment by embracing simplicity over complexity.

• What is your Lean origin story?
• Were your parents open to Kaizen opportunities or suggestions from you as a child?
• Was your first introduction to the "insanity trap" of MRP at Kimberly Clark?
• Can you describe the challenges of dealing with MRP at Kimberly Clark?
• What was Bill Holbrook's role when he suggested unplugging the MRP?
• How did your team transition from MRP to Kanban, and what were the results?
• Can you explain the issues with relying on forecasts and lead times in MRP systems?
• What do you think about demand-driven MRP as an alternative?
• Why do you think demand-driven MRP isn't more widely adopted?
• How do you balance the risk of excess inventory versus lost sales?
• How did Dell handle material constraints and lead time reduction when you were there?
• How does Toyota manage its supply chain and production planning without relying heavily on MRP?
• Can you talk about how Toyota's system recovers quickly from supply chain disruptions?
• What was the origin of your book The Insanity Trap?
• How can leaders and companies overcome the psychological barriers to changing their supply chain systems?
• How do you help employees transition from roles like expediting to managing Kanban systems?
• What are your thoughts on the promise of AI in demand forecasting and supply chain management?
• Who is the target audience for your book?
• What are your thoughts on supply chain planning versus execution in lean environments?

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 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 attracts Lean thinkers from across the country. Bruce talks about the upcoming conference theme, “Leveraging Lean to Thrive,” and how Lean principles can help organizations overcome uncertainty, especially in today’s challenging times.

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 #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 sustainable growth can be achieved by improving operational efficiency without sacrificing quality. Jacob emphasizes the importance of lean thinking and continuous improvement, noting that productivity gains should come from enhancing processes, not just relying on technology or financial measures. We also highlight the critical role of people and culture in driving lasting improvements and discuss how true productivity involves creating more value with the same or fewer resources, aligning with lean principles.

• What have you been up to since The Lean CEO?
• If you were to do a new edition of The Lean CEO, what would you add?
• How do you define productivity?
• What are productivity myths, and how are they affecting organizations?
• What are some examples of productivity gaps you've observed in industries like manufacturing?
• What misconceptions exist about improving productivity with lean methodologies?
• How important is the people side of lean, and how does it impact productivity?
• What strategies have you found most effective for real employee engagement?
• What are the pitfalls or misconceptions around leveraging technology for productivity gains?
• Can you share examples of companies successfully using lean thinking to improve productivity?
• What are some success stories or inspiring examples of organizations improving productivity outside traditional lean environments?

• Productivity myths and misconceptions
• The relationship between productivity, quality, and resource efficiency
• The importance of the people-first approach in lean
• Challenges in sustaining lean improvements
• The role of technology and automation in productivity
• Leadership's role in driving cultural change and continuous improvement
• The evolving landscape of productivity in various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and sustainability.

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.