In this episode of WLEI Podcast, we welcome Sandrine Olivencia, author of Build to Sell and expert in applying Lean principles to software development. Sandrine shares her journey from waterfall to Agile and eventually to Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD), which she sees as a more holistic and sustainable system for building great products and lasting businesses. The conversation explores:

• The importance of Gemba and why leaders at all levels need to stay closely connected to customers and the problems they face.

• How Lean thinking can help companies avoid “feature frenzy mode” and maintain a clear focus on delivering customer value.

• Why even mature tech companies often struggle to develop people and the steps leaders can take to build a culture of problem-solving and continuous improvement.

• Practical advice on where to start implementing Lean principles, including Sandrine’s three key strategies for building a more product-led company.

• The limitations of so-called “founder mode” and “manager mode” and how an alternative “Lean management mode” addresses the shortcomings of both.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Regis Megina, a software industry veteran who has undergone a journey from Agile to Lean. Regis shares insights on:

• How he transitioned from early frustrations with waterfall development to embracing Agile and Extreme Programming

• The challenges he faced in spreading these new ideas, and why he ultimately sought a deeper understanding of Lean principles

• Regis' current work applying Lean Thinking to startups and scale-ups, including creating educational materials and training programs

• The importance of continuous learning, technical mastery, and developing team capabilities - rather than just focusing on process improvement tools.

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In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with prolific author and business leader Art Byrne.

During the discussion, Art shares his decades-long journey leading lean transformation, from running kaizen events with the first wave of ex-Toyota consultants in the US to leading manufacturer Wiremold to record profitability.

For a decade, Art wrote 100 "Ask Art" columns, answering the lean community's most pressing questions. He has compiled the best of those into a new book, The Lean Turnaround Answer Book: 40 Years of Lean Observation.

Our conversation covered:

• The transformative impact of implementing the Toyota Production System to improve efficiency, quality, and customer service.
• The critical role of leadership and involving top executives in driving successful lean transformations through setting stretch goals and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• The challenges of traditional accounting methods in a lean environment and the need to transition to lean accounting practices.
• The strategic advantages of reducing setup times and lead times in manufacturing, allowing companies to gain a competitive advantage.
• Practical insights from the author's experience writing a book to provide answers to common questions about implementing lean principles across various industries.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with software industry veteran Robert Martin. Robert is one of the original signers of the Agile Manifesto and the author of several influential books, including Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship.

During the conversation, Robert shared insightful perspectives on some of the biggest challenges facing software development today. From the demographic problem of perpetual inexperience to his pioneering approach to development dubbed "software craftsmanship" that aims to promote quality work, Robert covered a wide range of issues impacting the industry. Some other topics discussed include:

• Balancing speed and quality in development and emphasizing a quality-first mindset.
• The benefits of test-driven development, such as providing freedom to change code safely.
• AI's potential impacts and appropriate uses of AI-generated code.

Be among the first to get the latest insights from LEI's Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD) thought leaders and practitioners. This podcast was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI's newsletter devoted to improving organizations' innovation capability. It is the second of four in a series focused on craftsmanship or pursuing perfection in products and people. Craftsmanship embodies simple elegance, precise execution, and a deep, personal connection to work that transforms both the creation and the creator.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, Jim Womack and John Krafcik share the origin story of the term "lean." Jim led the MIT global benchmarking study of the automotive industry, which led to the seminal book The Machine That Changed the World, and John was one of the principal researchers. Jim went on to co-author a similarly influential book, Lean Thinking, and founded the Lean Enterprise Institute. John Krafcik became an executive in the auto industry, serving as CEO of Hyundai America and Waymo. The discussion closes by turning from the past to the future with updates on Waymo's autonomous driving technology.

This conversation took place at LEI's Lean Summit in March 2024.

Special note: Are you keen to explore how technology such as autonomy will reshape the future workplace? Join us at "The Future of People at Work Symposium" July 18-19 in Detriot, MI, to learn about these challenges from business luminaries like Jim Womack and Jeff Liker and collaborate with peers to address them. Click here to learn more and register.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Dr. Jackie Gerhart and Dr. Christopher Longhurst. Dr. Gerhart is a family physician and VP of clinical informatics at Epic Systems, while Dr. Longhurst is the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Digital Officer at UC San Diego Health.

In the discussion, we explore:

• How health systems are using AI to improve patient outcomes.
• The potential for AI to reduce clinicians' cognitive burden, allowing them to reconnect with patients.
• What educators should consider when training the next generation of doctors who will begin their careers with access to AI.

Special note: As this conversation demonstrates, the workplace is rapidly changing, fueled by technological advancements like AI, shifting generational expectations, and evolving customer demands.

Join LEI at "The Future of People at Work Symposium" July 18-19 in Detriot, MI to learn about these challenges from business luminaries like Jim Womack and Jeff Liker and collaborate with peers to address them. Click here to learn more and register.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Alan Goodman, professor and department chair of quality engineering at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Alan spent his career in operations at GE before becoming a professor. The podcast explores his recent work to teach young students lean skills to prepare them for careers after school.

In the discussion, we explore:

• Alan's background in lean and how he's transferring his skills to students through a program he's grown from a one-week online course to a year-round initiative.
• Getting students interested in lean concepts through interactive games and how to apply these lessons to adult learning.
• Alan's vision to partner with companies to create a pipeline for students to enter the workforce from school.
• Methods Alan incorporates new technologies like AI and gamification into his teaching methods to foster creativity and critical thinking.

If you'd like to support Alan's work, check out https://cityonahillmke.org.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Ben Armstrong, Executive Director of MIT's Industrial Performance Center, and Jim Morgan, Senior Advisor at the Lean Enterprise Institute. They share perspectives from Ben's extensive research on the history and future of US manufacturing and Jim's first-hand knowledge of developing new products and production processes.

In our discussion, we explore:

• The rise and decline of America's manufacturing expertise and how the decoupling of design and production has impacted innovation.
• Challenges currently facing small and medium manufacturers, and what investments they should consider.
• The role of industrial policy and government support in spurring new growth in US manufacturing.
• Emerging technologies like AI and how they could transform manufacturing operations going forward.

This podcast was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI’s newsletter devoted to improving organizations’ innovation capability. It is the second of four in a series on process development entitled “Making Things Well.”

Subscribe to the Design Brief newsletter by clicking here.