Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

Shaunté Kinch on Solving Big Problems in Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Beyond

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Joining us for Episode #478 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Shaunté Kinch.
In 2022, Shaunté founded Empact Global, a consultancy that works with organizations to help them solve really BIG problems. Her more than 20 years spent implementing Six Sigma, LEAN, and design thinking concepts have inspired her to take on “wicked problems” in a “VUCA” (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world.
Originally trained by Shingijustu (pioneers of the Toyota Production System) she has educated over 2800 people in continuous improvement and innovation, led hundreds of workshops, and coached more than 60 leaders.
Shaunte holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and a Masters of Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing, both from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.
In today's episode, we discuss what Shaunté learned about Lean in her first aerospace jobs, including time spent working with the famed Shingujitsu consulting group. What did Shaunté learn and discover when she was recruited into her first healthcare organization? We discuss problem-solving in the context of shopfloor improvement, management practices, and big societal problems like inequities and a lack of diversity in some Lean settings.
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
How does Lean help us navigate a VUCA world?
What we know vs. what we THINK we know? 
Facts vs. data?
How do assumptions get leaders in trouble?
Leaders observing leaders? Doing so in a non-blaming way?
Helping people go from “we don't have time” to making time?
What's your Lean origin story?
“Everything was an experiment” – seeds planted by her father, a math & science teacher
Northrup Grumman – “Lean Engineering”
Boeing – “real training” from Shingujitsu
From Aerospace to healthcare? What's different?
“I don't think challenge is supported enough in HC”
Ideas on how Lean practices need to evolve?
Shifting to working independently / your own firm?
Fighting the way we've always done it, including in hiring and selecting speakers for events
Diversity and representation on conference stages, Lean in general
How does it feel to go to a conference and not see a Black woman on the stage?
Celebrating Juneteenth
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

MIT Prof. Zeynep Ton on Her New Book ”The Case for Good Jobs”

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Joining us for Episode #477 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Zeynep Ton. She is a professor of the practice at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Previously, she was on the faculty of the Har­vard Business School. Ton received numerous awards for teaching excellence at both schools.
She was previously a guest in Episode 228 in 2015, discussing her first book The Good Jobs Strategy. Her new book, released in June, is The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay, and Meaning to Everyone's Work.
In today's episode, we discuss what's meant by “good jobs” — and how it's not just about compensation. What are good jobs and what's the case for them, in both human and financial terms? Among other topics, we discuss how it's a system, the “good jobs system,” and there is risk in trying to just copy a piece or two that sounds good (which reminds us both of issues around adoption of the Toyota Production System).
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
What are “good jobs”? 
Has this definition evolved at all?
“Operate with slack”
Nursing shortages — the effect of not operating with slack
Improving call center jobs — reducing the need for calls to begin with 
HBR piece — mental models of customer-centric vs. financial-centric
The new book — “the case” for good jobs?
Benefits of lower turnover
Simple thinking vs. systems thinking — 2% margin business “can't afford” higher wages… or can't afford NOT to?
5 Corporate Disabilities when you have high turnover
Tight labor markets — a greater need for companies to adopt “the good jobs strategy” or at least some practices? 
Sam's Club — competitive pressure to catch up or emulate Costco?
The good jobs SYSTEM — risk of copying just one piece, such as higher pay?
Cost of Poor Quality vs. Cost of Bad Jobs — not on the financial statements
Operational Indifference… vs operational excellence
“There's a grave disconnect between what's happening on the front lines and what executives think is happening.”
Finding balance? “standardizing processes when that makes sense and empowering employees to help customers”
Obstacles to creating good jobs? The logical evidence-based case to be made vs. habits and beliefs of executives (mental models)?
“Many leaders don't even consider frontline work critical to company performance.”
Cost-benefit analysis — easy to calculate the cost of higher pay… predicting the benefits is seen as a leap of faith? 
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

Ken Pilone on Transferring TPS & Lean to Areas Outside of Manufacturing, Including Policing and Healthcare

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Joining us for Episode #476 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Ken Pilone, who has more than 30 years experience in Organization Development in Government, Retail, Automotive, Distribution, and Aerospace.
He recently retired from Providence Health & Services, working most recently as the Senior Manager of Business Process Engineering at Providence Health & Services — a role that encompassed internal Lean consulting, including executive coaching, lean training, leadership development, and all functions typical of a lean promotion or PI/CI function.
He's now working as an independent coach.
He spent nearly 20 years with Toyota as Lean consultant within the company as well as with suppliers, vendors, partners, and community groups. He a co-creator of the University of Toyota at the company HQ. He led the work to adapt the Toyota Production System to non-production environments (warehousing, supply chain, HQ administration depts., sales, product distribution, dealer operations, etc. In addition, he led the Center for Lean Thinking.
Ken has a Masters's in Industrial Psychology and Organizational Development with his Toyota experience, Ken has developed specialties in Lean consulting in non-production environments, curriculum development and delivery, leadership, and management development coaching, Toyota problem-solving method training, and public speaking.
He's the author of Lean Leadership on a Napkin: An Executive's Guide to Lean Transformation in Three Proven Steps.
In today's episode, we discuss the application of Lean in healthcare and Ken's experience there… and more!
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
Police work? LAPD
Viewing work as a process… 
Helping people see that in healthcare? How to go about that?
Not using the term “value streams”
Fixing defects vs. fixing the system?
Defects in policing paperwork in the field
Correcting the paperwork vs. why it occurred
Process is broken — Band-Aids
No time… why? How can we create time?
Microexperiments vs. implementing? How to help people look at improvements as experiments?
Psychological safety – removing the danger?
“Never Events”? Zero Harm?
JPL – process gremlins and being proactive…
“Breaking the system on purpose”
Adapting to healthcare… Tell us about your later transition into working in healthcare? Pulled or pushed?
The importance of leading with humility? How to build that?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

Joshua Kerievsky on the Joy of Agility -- It’s Not Just for Software Companies

CEO of Industrial Logic, author of Joy of Agility
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Joining us for Episode #475 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Joshua Kerievsky, the founder and CEO of Industrial Logic, one of the oldest and most well-respected agile consultancies on the planet. 
Since 1996, Joshua and his global network of colleagues have helped people in teams across many industries leverage the wisdom and power of modern product development methods. An early pioneer and practitioner of Extreme Programming, Lean Software Development and Lean Startup, Joshua most recently crafted “Modern Agile” to help people and organizations benefit from a principle-based approach to agility.
Joshua is passionate about helping people produce awesome outcomes via genuine agility. He is an international speaker and author of books including most recently, Joy of Agility: How to Solve Problems and Succeed Sooner.
In today's episode, we discuss how “agility” doesn't strictly mean “Agile” in software. How was Joshua inspired by leaders including former Alcoa CEO Paul O'Neill? What can all kinds of organizations learn about the art of evaluating experiments in ways that lead to more improvement and greater innovation?
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
What's your “origin story” when it comes to these methods?
Agile is an adjective… “ready ability to move with quick, easy, grace” — resourceful and adaptable
It's not just about speed, but also quality?
Do you recall when you were first introduced to “Lean” — was it via “Lean Startup” early days?
The Industrial Logic name?
“Process” sounds bad? Why is that?
Toyota – enabling bureaucracy vs. limiting bureaucracy
SAFE experiments
Paul O'Neill admiration – safety 
2012 The Power of Habit book
What does safety mean in software?
The risk of mistakes — expensive $$ decision… small tests of change???
The art of evaluating experiments? Keep going? Pivot or persevere?
For those who don't know, what's “agile” vs. what you describe as “agility”?
This is NOT a book about software development
Driving out fear like Deming?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

Norbert Majerus on Lean-Driven Innovation; From a Farm in Luxembourg to Factories and a Shingo Award

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Joining us for Episode #474 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Norbert Majerus. He has his own firm now but previously worked for Goodyear, joining the company in 1978 in his home country of Luxembourg. He moved to Akron in 1983 and worked disciplines in the Goodyear innovation centers in both locations, retiring in 2018.
His first book (2016) Lean-Driven Innovation: Powering Product Development at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was a Shingo Award recipient. His latest book is Winning Innovation: How Innovation Excellence Propels an Industry Icon Toward Sustained Prosperity.
In today's episode, we discuss Lean and innovation — how they co-exist, how Lean Product Development drives innovation, and how to truly engage people by leading with humility and respecting people.
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
What's your Lean origin story?
Goodyear had tried Lean a few times in MFG – didn't work well — WHY?
This was before Billy Taylor – they worked together 5 years
Growing up on a farm — Toyota is said to be a company of farmers… how did Lean resonate with you?
Lean is Lean? – doing this in unusual places, it's all the same
Definitions? Innovation vs. improvement?
Make sure we don't stifle creativity (we can all be creative, as Norm Bodek always said)
Toyota and The Innovator's Dilemma
Akio Toyoda stepping aside as CEO — a new push for EVs there?
Can combine lean and innovation
How best to connect “Respect for people” and “rapid problem solving and experimentation” for product development and innovation? Humility…
Can you be innovative enough for long enough withOUT those lean culture concepts? 
Your new book is in a Business novel format – why write it this way?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

IN MEMORIAM - Ritsuo Shingo, Former Toyota Executive and Lean Teacher

Blog post about Mr. Shingo's passing
Today, we mourn and remember Ritsuo Shingo, who recently passed away at age 75. I am re-releasing episode 409 with him from two years ago this month, in April 2021.
My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and everybody who worked with him, including my friends at the Shingo Institute.
 

’Picture Yourself a Leader’ - Interview with Elisabeth Swan on Her New Book

Author, podcaster, and consultant
Episode page
Joining us for Episode #473 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Elisabeth Swan, author of the new book Picture Yourself a Leader: Illustrated Micro-Lessons for Navigating Change. It's currently the #1 new release in the Amazon TQM category…
Elisabeth has consulted in the business process performance industry for over 30 years. Her experience spans from helping local non-profits expand their reach to guiding Fortune 100 companies through Lean Transformations. She has trained and mentored thousands of people in improvement projects generating millions in savings. She has deep experience coaching problem solvers and facilitating leadership retreats, strategic planning sessions, process walks, and kaizen events.
Elisabeth is the Co-Designer and Lead Instructor for the Lean Six Sigma Leadership Course at University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She is a co-founder, with Tracy ORourke, of the Just-in-Time Café and co-host of the Just-in-Time Café podcast. She co-authored, also with Tracy, The Problem Solver's Toolkit: A Surprisingly Simple Guide to Your Lean Six Sigma Journey.
In today's episode, we discuss her new book and the process for getting there, including the role of feedback, editing, and an editorial board as inputs to iteration and improvement.
Questions, Notes, and Highlights:
Tell us the story behind the book? Why this book? Why this format?
Sketching and drawing during the pandemic?
Why illustrate each chapter?
Asking people — “What have you figured out?” (PDSA) vs. “what do you know?”
Who is the book written for? Lean leadership or just good “leadership” influenced by C.I.??
Do some people have trouble picturing themselves a leader?
“The word leader can mean many things” — tell us more about that – how can everybody be a leader?
Author talk: Writing and Editing process – PDSA cycles? (Plan, Do, Study, Adjust)
Iterating, asking for honest feedback?
“The curse of knowledge?”
Iterating on the cover design?
“Heading off the head scratchers” — acronyms
“Perfecting Rework” — you invited me to contribute a “wisdom of the crowd” story here… 
W. Edwards Deming's – American way of making toast… you burn it, I'll scrape it
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

Mit Vyas: Insights on Learning from Toyota, Entrepreneurial Success, and Mindfulness Practices

Managing Director of Gemba Automation
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Joining us for Episode #472 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Mit Vyas, managing director for Gemba Automation. He started his career at Toyota and worked for other large corporations. He founded Gemba Automation, a company that has helped customers in software, medical devices, fashion, and construction develop profitable and sustainable businesses.
Mit holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
In today's episode, we discuss what Mit learned working at Toyota, how that's been applied through Lean Startup thinking, and why the practice of meditation has been so important to him.
Questions, Notes, and highlights:
I already gave part of the answer by mentioning Toyota… but tell us more about your Lean origin story?
First job at Toyota – Process Engineer at Toyota was my first “real” job. The experience there was the springboard to the rest of my career.
Inputs & outputs? — not telling you the answer?
“What the actual facts” are out in the factory floor
“Making your thinking visible?” – Problem Solving A3
A3 coaching and questions?
What do you know and how do you know it?
Foundations? How can you learn problem solving if you don't know what the standard work or Takt are?
What does the word “Kaizen” mean to you, to Toyota?
What does “Challenge” mean at Toyota? What does it mean to you?
Leading with humility?
How do you apply PDCA thinking in your company? To starting a company?
What's the problem statement that led to the company as a countermeasure?
Lean Startup concepts?
Minimum Viable Product? Minimum Viable Service?
Have you found good product / market fit?
Check and Adjust — pivot or persevere?
Calming your nervous mind?
Power of meditation – You've been meditating… what have you learned from that practice?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

Discovering the Benefits of Data-Driven DEI: An Interview with Dr. Randal Pinkett on his New Book

Co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners
Episode page with links and more
Joining us for Episode #471 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Dr. Randal Pinkett. He was a guest in Episode 380 in 2020, with Prof. Jeffrey Robinson, his co-author for the book Black Faces in White Places.
Today, I'm honored to be joined by Randal again to talk about his new book, his fifth book —  Data-Driven DEI: The Tools and Metrics You Need to Measure, Analyze, and Improve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, released yesterday, March 14th. 
Randal is an entrepreneur, innovator, speaker, author, media personality and DEI expert who is leading the way in business, technology and equity for all. He is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a global, multimillion-dollar research, training, consulting, technology, and data analytics firm whose mission is to provide insights about diverse people that lead to equity.  
He's a graduate of the MIT Leaders for Global Operations Program. He's a Rhodes Scholar with a PhD also from MIT. As we talked about a little bit last time, Randal was the winner of Season 4 of The Apprentice.

CEO Gary Michel on Lean for the Enterprise and the Need to Decomplify Work

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Joining us for Episode #470 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Gary Michel.
He was Chairman and CEO of JELD-WEN, Inc. until August 2022 and, just after that, I saw him give an outstanding keynote talk at the AME annual conference in Dallas.
Gary was previously President and CEO of Honeywell Home and Building Technologies (HBT) and President and CEO of ClubCar. He also led the Trane HVAC business, among other executive roles.
He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
His book, Decomplify: How Simplicity Drives Stability, Innovation, and Transformation, will be available later this year.
In this episode, Gary discusses his Lean origin story and how he views and drives Lean as a CEO. He reflects on the importance of strategy deployment and Lean as an enterprise approach, and shares his approach to Lean problem solving as a CEO. Gary emphasizes the impact of taking a “fresh eyes” approach to Gemba walks, and talks about the importance of being inquisitive and taking responsibility for simplifying processes (or “decomplifying” them).
Questions, Notes, and highlights:
What's your Lean origin story?
Lower volume business – how to make it flow? We're not Toyota?
Strategy deployment… lean as an enterprise
How to be focused on most pressing needs?
Reaction to the John Toussaint quote – “you've seen one lean transformation….”
“I teach problem solving a lot”
Who were your teachers, guides and coaches?
Shedding Old habits and old philosophies
How did you drive Lean problem solving from the CEO seat?
How to coach others away from bad habits?
Culture impact of coaching leaders vs. selecting the right ones for promotion?
Having a rallying cry to set direction
Working to reduce fear of speaking up
Get out there… those closest to the work
How to get other leaders out to the Gemba?
The impact of taking leaders out on a Gemba walk??
Some are afraid of that, making mistakes?
The importance of taking a “Fresh Eyes” approach??
Why should leaders be inquisitive when things don't look the way they're supposed to look?
What's your definition of a “great company”?
Problem Solving AND communication as much as anything else
Influencing other CEOs to take interest in Lean yet alone drive it?
Gets asked – What if my CEO isn't driving this?
Decomplifying annual planning and strategy cycles?
The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in its 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.
This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.