Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Manufacturing | Lean Office | Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership

This week's guest is Brent Weichers. Ron and Brent discussed OpEx assessments and how Brent and his team deliver genuine value and insight through them. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote that inspires Brent (2:54) Brent's background (4:06) What an OpEx assessment is (5:46) The systems they use (6:57) Working through resistance and negativity (15:41) Why companies struggle after winning awards (20:30) What problem they're trying to solve (21:15) The cadence they work at (23:54) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Brent on LinkedIn GA 272 | The Role of Lean in Empowering People with Disabilities with Brent Weichers GA 304 | The Different Approaches to Training Leaders with Brent Weichers GA 369 | Developing an Internship Program with Brent Weichers GA 438 | The Importance of Understanding People with Brent Weichers Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a

This week's guest is George Saiz. Ron and George discussed the true meaning behind Respect for People, and how to effectively motivate different people in different ways. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote that inspires George (3:20) About George (4:55) About his book, We Started with Respect (7:43) What "Respect for People" really means (12:40) How George motivates different people (17:39) What George learned about himself (20:58) Another inspirational quote George likes (29:48) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 George's Website George on LinkedIn GA 121 | Leading AME with George Saiz GA 274 | Retiring from a Lean Career with George Saiz Get All the Latest News from Gemba AcademyOur newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think?What style of motivation works best for you? Why?

This week's guest is Mark Graban. Ron and Mark discussed making mistakes and the importance of psychological safety. Mark also shared a little about his podcast, "My Favorite Mistake," and his new book, "The Mistakes That Make Us." An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Mark likes (2:45) About Mark (5:59) The "My Favorite Mistake" podcast (10:57) How we react to our own mistakes (16:48) The benefits versus risks of speaking up (23:55) Why and where psychological safety is lacking (25:12) Practical tips for individuals (33:55) One of Ron's biggest mistakes (39:25) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Mark's Website Mark on LinkedIn My Favorite Mistake Podcast The Mistakes That Make Us GA 007 | Using Lean Thinking to Transform the Healthcare Industry with Mark Graban GA 046 | Lean in Japan with Mark Graban GA 071 | Practicing Lean with Mark Graban GA 114 | How to Apply Lean to

This week's guest is Jacob Bonde Larsen. Ron and Jacob discussed RPA (Robotic Process Automation), the three components of RPA, how it relates to lean, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Jacob likes (3:03) His background (4:53) What RPA stands for (6:45) An example (8:11) Whether or not this affects jobs (10:05) Lean vs RPA (11:26) The three key components of RPA (13:43) RPA and ChatGPT (15:39) The competencies of RPA (17:26) Resources for experimenting with RPA (23:15) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Jacob on LinkedIn Nordic RPA UiPath Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? Have you heard of RPA? Share what you know or what your experience has been with it.

This week's guest is Gemba Academy's own John Knotts. Ron and John discussed John's books, stepping into your fear zone, knowing your purpose, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote John likes (3:24) His background (4:09) Navigating fear in a professional context (10:17) Some of the countermeasures (15:39) Dealing with a need for control and certainty (18:42) What we can learn from the Flywheel concept (23:50) How and why John became disciplined (29:55) Discovering and knowing your purpose (32:39) His parting thoughts (35:21) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 John on LinkedIn GA 392 | Using Lean on a Horse Farm with John Knotts GA 407 | Choosing an Approach to Lean and Six Sigma with John Knotts GA 439 | Collecting and Interpreting Data with John Knotts Crosscutter Enterprises John's Books on Amazon Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a gr

This week's guests are Sam Morgan and Andres Alamillo. Ron, Sam, and Andres discussed the importance of diversity in continuous improvement, using the kata framework as a lens. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Sam likes (3:12) The quote Andres likes (4:43) Sam's background (6:25) Andres' background (8:51) Why it's important to build community (9:50) How Sam and Andres see the current condition (19:24) How practitioners "carry the candle" (25:21) Sam and Andres' thoughts on the target condition (26:47) Practical steps people can take (32:29) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 GA 461 | Scientific Thinking and Confidence with Sam Morgan Sam on LinkedIn Illuminate Coaching + Consulting Andres on LinkedIn Smith Gardens Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Thi

This week's guest is Nick Katko. Ron and Nick discussed the importance of leveraging Lean Accounting, Nick's book "The Lean CFO," and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Nick likes (2:55) His background (3:51) Why lean accounting matters (6:37) The ramifications of a cost accounting system (8:07) Why he wrote the second edition (11:36) Why The Box Score matters (13:21) Financial performance vs. results (15:01) What "true north" means in lean accounting (16:42) Why he added value stream management (19:35) Nick's perspective on TOC (27:03) Practical tips for getting started (28:10) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Nick on LinkedIn The Lean CFO GA 399 | Practicing Lean Accounting with Mike De Luca and Nick Katko Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Thi

This week's guest is Chris Hodges. Ron and Chris discussed Noble Automation, the role of AI in automation, the concept of monomyths, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Chris likes (3:01) His background (3:48) An example of noble automation (11:11) The role of AI plays in automation (14:29) A story about his own family (18:01) Helping humans be heroes (25:25) The concept of monomyths (26:55) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Noble Automation Now Chris on LinkedIn Chris on Calendly Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How do you think AI will change or has changed automation?

  This week's guest is Sarah Tilkens. Ron and Sarah discussed her career at GE, the impact coaching has had on her, and how she integrates coaching and lean. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  The quote Sarah has been thinking about (3:52) Her background (6:01) Identifying individual strengths (7:53) The impact coaching has had on her (12:12) Advice from Sahil Bloom (14:35) Integrating coaching and lean (16:46) What happens when you're dealing with a "tough" learner (19:56) What GE is up to continuous improvement-wise (22:39) How to be a better coach (25:15) What's next for Sarah (27:58) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Sarah on LinkedIn GA 275 | Leading vs. Serving with Sarah Tilkens GA 408 | Lean and Life Coaches with Sarah Tilkens Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What D

This week's guest is Calvin Williams. Ron and Calvin discussed Calvin's new book, "FIT: The Simple Science of Achieving Strategic Goals," and what setting strategic goals really entails. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn:  Calvin's background (3:01) The quote Calvin likes (3:55) About his book (5:06) What FIT stands for (8:04) The problem they're trying to address (11:55) His advice for setting a strategic goal (16:01) Where this fits in the continuous improvement realm (20:59) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Calvin on LinkedIn FIT on Amazon Impruver GA 318 | Structuring Your Continuous Improvement Efforts GA 433 | Being a Scientific Leader Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Our newsletter is a great way to receive updates on new courses, blog posts, and more. Sign up here. What Do You Think? How do you go about setting strategic goals?