Lean

1655 Articles

How a Little Compassion Improves Outcomes

By Jon Miller - August 13th, 2018

In an inspiring TED video Stephen Trzeciak, a critical care doctor at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, N.J. explains How 40 Seconds of Compassion Could Save a Life. He begins, “In healthcare we in the midst of a compas

GA 227 | How to Leverage Lean in Banking with Danny Conroy and Daniel Lichty

By Jessica Bush - August 9th, 2018

This week’s guests are Danny Conroy and Daniel Lichty. Danny and Daniel explained how they use lean in banking, specifically to improve the mortgage process. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here. In this

Why Do We Need to Set a Hypothesis?

By Jon Miller - August 6th, 2018

Why do we need to set a hypothesis? Because that’s how the scientific method works. Why do we need to follow the scientific method? Because that’s how we solve complex or novel problems most effectively. Why is that true? B

Shoulder Calcific Tendonitis

When Noise Masks the Problem

By Kevin Meyer - August 3rd, 2018

Last week I was reading Mark Graban’s latest book, Measures of Success, which does a great job of discussing how to use data to effectively lead and manage an organization.  With new technologies it has become so easy to capture

GA 226 | How to Practice Lean in the UAE with Dan Whittaker

By Jessica Bush - August 2nd, 2018

This week’s guest is Dan Whittaker. Dan shared some interesting stories from his time working in Formula 1, and explained what it’s like applying lean in the United Arab Emirates. An MP3 version of this episode is available

Review of The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

By Jon Miller - July 30th, 2018

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle examines how groups of various sizes and shapes form into great teams. He offers practical pointers on what we can do to improve our relationships within coopera

GA 225 | How to Create a Strategy Execution Plan with David Asher

By Jessica Bush - July 26th, 2018

This week’s guest is our new Director of Certification & Coaching, David Asher. Ron and David talked about the importance of having a Strategy Execution Plan, among other things. An MP3 version of this episode is available fo

When Fish Fly

By Jon Miller - July 23rd, 2018

For more than 20 years fish have been flying through the middle of downtown Seattle. Locals come to the Pike Place Fish Market to buy fresh fish. Tourists come for the novelty of seeing the fishmongers throw 10-pound salmon to each oth

GA 224 | How to Apply Lean in Different Countries with James Newell

By Jessica Bush - July 19th, 2018

This week’s guest is James Newell. James is American but has lived in Germany for the past twenty years, and he shared his experiences applying lean there. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here. In this ep

How to Set a Rational Frequency for Earnings Forecasts

By Jon Miller - July 16th, 2018

In June of this year, financial titans Jamie Dimon and Warren Buffet argued in the Wall Street Journal that short-termism is harming the economy. They called on public companies to reduce or even eliminate their quarterly earnings guid

GA 223 | How to Apply Lean to the Government with Justin Kenney

By Jessica Bush - July 12th, 2018

This week’s guest is Justin Kenney. Justin, who works for the state of Vermont, explained how he and his team leverage continuous improvement at the government level. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.

Thinking About Thinking

By Kevin Meyer - July 9th, 2018

For the past several years I’ve been fascinated by how we think – and how that affects us, our leadership, and the organizations we’re a part of.  A couple years ago I wrote about the beginner’s mind and the va

Unlocking the Power of Continuous Improvement

By Ron Pereira - July 6th, 2018

The more I come to understand the idea of scientific thinking the more I see it hidden inside other sound systems including Nick Saban’s famous “Process” that’s lead to him building one of college football’

GA 222 | How to Sustain Improvements with Brian DeVries

By Jessica Bush - July 5th, 2018

This week’s guest is Brian DeVries. Ron and Brian talked about sustaining improvements and showing empathy throughout the process. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn:

Deeply Understanding Improvement with Edgar Schein & John Shook

By Jon Miller - July 2nd, 2018

The Lean Enterprise Institute has put together the transcript of a dialogue between Prof. Edgar Schein and John Shook during the Lean Healthcare Academic Conference at Stanford in September 2017. The fifteen pages are full of stories a

GA 221 | How to Think Scientifically with Stephen Derksen

By Jessica Bush - June 28th, 2018

This week’s guest is Stephen Derksen. Ron and Stephen discussed Toyota Kata and learning how to think in a scientific manner. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you’ll learn: Step

How to Civilize an Elevator

By Jon Miller - June 25th, 2018

As recently as four years ago, my worked involved constant international travel. This is no longer the case. I miss very little of that life. One thing that I do miss is the exposure to other cultures, in particular how humans in vario

Set Full Sail

By Steve Kane - June 22nd, 2018

  Getting started with lean in an existing organization challenging on many levels.  Often some of the most important steps in a lean journey are not recognized. A common place people think they start is with 5S.  It’s an

GA 220 | How to Ensure the Longevity of Your Lean Success with Mohamed Aref

By Jessica Bush - June 21st, 2018

This week’s guest is Mohamed Aref. Mohamed shared his lean journey with us, including his take on what makes a lean initiative stick, and what lean is like in Egypt. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.

How to Take a Trail, or Not

By Jon Miller - June 18th, 2018

While shopping for gifts with my family this weekend, I noticed the store had many cards, mugs, printed items on the theme of, “Don’t follow the trail made by others but make your own.” This is spectacularly bad advic

GA 219 | How to Adopt the Best Mindset for Lean with Kyle Kumpf

By Jessica Bush - June 14th, 2018

This week’s guest is Kyle Kumpf. Kyle walked us through his lean journey thus far, explaining why it’s important to be critical on processes and not people. An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here. In

Wellness Programs and the Health of Continuous Improvement

By Jon Miller - June 11th, 2018

Logical. Proven. Life-changing. These words equally describe successful health & wellness programs and continuous improvement programs. But do these programs really work in changing behaviors? Professors David Asch and Shreya Kan

GA 218 | How to Harness the Power of A3 Thinking with Captain Brad Brown

By Jessica Bush - June 7th, 2018

This week we’re sharing the audio of a presentation given by Captain Brad Brown at the 2017 Lean Municipal Government Forum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brad shared how the fire department’s use of A3 thinking has yielded rea

A Simple Hand Gesture that is Key to Goal Alignment

By Jon Miller - June 4th, 2018

Lean management aims to serve others by doing more with less, thereby sustainably reaping just rewards for such service. Among other things, this requires everyone in the organization to continuously improve products, processes, servic

New Camaldoli Hermitage

Using Solitude and Silence to Enable Personal Reflection

By Kevin Meyer - June 1st, 2018

I will take time to be alone today. I will take time to be quiet. In this silence I will listen… and I will hear my answers. – Ruth Fishel Last Memorial Day weekend, while the rest of the country was enjoying the roar of the Indy 5

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