This week's guest is Craig Coyle. Ron and Craig discussed Craig's experience as an Apache pilot, what employee engagement is and isn't, why new leaders quit, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: Craig's favorite quote (2:37) His background (3:26) The first time Craig flew an Apache on his own (7:01) Why employee engagement is critical (8:40) What engagement looks like (12:29) Craig's advice he gives to senior leaders (17:26)...
Mar 13, 2025•39 min
This week's guest is Uriel Eisen. Ron and Uriel discussed the importance of kanban, why increasing your inventory isn't always a bad thing, Uriel's background and projects, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Uriel likes (2:33) His background (5:14) What "tripling production" means (9:03) How he increased their inventory (14:01) How it's measured (19:13) Uriel's advice on how to get started (22:14) Podcast Resourc...
Mar 06, 2025•29 min
This week's guest is Adam Lawrence. Ron and Adam discussed reliability kaizen, what it means, how it relates to the Wheel of Sustainability, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Adam likes (2:25) His background (3:17) What reliability kaizen means to Adam (4:52) About OEE (8:59) The steps he and his team follow (10:12) What this has to do with reliability (14:38) The resistance he's seen teams face (16:58) About th...
Feb 27, 2025•37 min
This week's guest is Sarah Tilkens. Ron and Sarah discussed The KPI Lab (which Sarah founded), why talent development is critical, what leaders can do to help, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Sarah likes (2:14) Her background (3:19) About the KPI lab (4:27) Why talent development is critical (5:23) What leaders can do (8:38) Combining lean and talent development (12:18) What it's been like working on the KPI l...
Feb 20, 2025•21 min
This week's guest is Thomas Gelmi. Ron and Thomas discussed Thomas's unique background, how he helps leaders develop their "human" skills, navigating different personalities at work, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Thomas likes (2:48) His background (4:16) What "human skills" refers to (7:33) Why how we feel about ourselves matters (10:29) Navigating personality differences (16:36) His opinion on why developin...
Feb 13, 2025•36 min
This week's guest is Alen Ganic. Ron and Alen discussed visual management, examples of visual management they have seen and created, dealing with any resistance you might meet, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Alen likes (2:46) His background (3:12) What visual management is (5:28) Examples he's seen and created (6:20) A story about Ron's time at FlowServe (11:08) Alen's story about how he helped saved a compan...
Feb 06, 2025•32 min
This week's guest is Dr. Brad Miller. Ron and Dr. Miller discussed what it's like to teach Lean and Six Sigma at a university, the business lessons that can be learned from academia, his grocery store simulation, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote that inspires Dr. Miller (3:01) His background (4:29) How he started working at a university (6:51) What students are like these days (9:07) How he structures his class...
Jan 30, 2025•45 min
This week's guest is Ridha Dhrifi. Ron and Ridha discussed ISO 9001, how it aligns with lean manufacturing, balancing compliance with operational efficiency, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: Ridha's favorite quote (3:01) His background (4:29) The alignment between ISO 9001 and lean manufacturing (5:49) About ISO 9001 (7:09) Industries interested in ISO 9001 (8:31) Making sure it's an authentic certification adding real v...
Jan 23, 2025•30 min
This week's guest is Ron Pereira. In this new years-themed episode, Ron explains why forming new habits is often more effective than keeping new resolutions, how to form those habits, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: Why resolutions fail (3:20) Outcomes versus the process (4:51) Ron's habit of exercising (7:05) Creating standard work for habits (8:14) Lean and new habits (11:06) Define value (11:20) Start small (12:07) M...
Jan 16, 2025•23 min
This week's guest is Brandon Bunn. Ron and Brandon discussed what it looks like to leverage lean and continuous improvement inside prison facilities, some of the obstacles that arise, and how other lean leaders can get involved. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote that inspires Brandon (3:06) Brandon's background (4:06) Why he got into the prison industry (7:45) What a "Day in the Life" looks like (9:05) The improvements th...
Jan 09, 2025•36 min
This week's guest is Beau Groover. Ron and Beau discussed people and process integration, lean leadership, Beau's "GSD" system, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Beau likes (2:52) His background (3:16) What people and process integration is (5:54) Why it's so important and why it's difficult (7:42) What it means to be vulnerable (10:16) Where we're "missing the mark" (14:10) Some practical tips (17:14) An exampl...
Jan 02, 2025•30 min
This week's guest is Steve Pereira. Ron and Steve discussed flow engineering, Steve's latest book, the relationship between value, clarity, and flow, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Steve likes (3:57) His background (5:29) About his book "Flow Engineering" (7:48) Defining flow engineering (10:28) The relationship between value, clarity, and flow (16:01) The role AI plays in flow (20:39) His favorite applicatio...
Dec 26, 2024•33 min
This week's guest is Matt White. Ron and Matt discussed problem solving, Matt's backgrounds in both manufacturing and healthcare, the importance of using the "language" of a company, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quotes Matt likes (3:22) His background (4:40) Why lean works in many different industries (8:41) Matt's thoughts on identifying problems in organizations (9:45) Using PDCA and A3 Reporting (14:06) How sc...
Dec 19, 2024•35 min
This week's guest is Topaz Adizes. Ron and Topaz discussed Topaz's studio The Skin Deep, his film {The And}, and the conversation cards he created. Focused on the power of human connection, this interview will stay with you long after it's over. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote that Topaz likes (3:30) His background (4:13) About his {The And} project (9:28) An example of the questions (11:27) The three conversations that...
Dec 12, 2024•34 min
This week's guest is Gary Cihak. Ron and Gary discussed Gary's Six Sigma Green Belt project, what he learned from it, how he dealt with the resistance that followed, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote that inspires Gary (3:21) About Gary and his background (3:52) How he was introduced to continuous improvement (4:29) The problem Gary was trying to solve with his Six Sigma Green Belt project (5:07) A project Ron w...
Dec 05, 2024•23 min
This week's guest is Chad Bareither. Ron and Chad discussed lean transformations, the role leaders play in them, creating a sense of ownership, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Chad likes (2:44) Chad's background (7:15) What a successful lean transformation looks like (8:12) The role leaders play in the transformation (14:01) How we can ensure there are more long-term ongoing transformations (18:16) How we can ...
Nov 28, 2024•37 min
This week's guest is José Ferro. Ron and José discussed daily management, what it is, what the main obstacles involved are, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote José likes (3:39) His background (5:28) About his book Daily Management to Execute Strategy (9:45) What Daily Management is (11:39) Deciding if you're "winning" or "losing" (19:03) The main obstacles to daily management (23:49) Podcast Resources Right Click...
Nov 21, 2024•33 min
This week's guest is Robin Hills. Ron and Robin discussed the importance of Emotional Intelligence, how it involves more than just our brains, assessing our own Emotional Intelligence, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: A quote Robin likes (4:38) About Robin (6:34) Defining emotional intelligence (9:03) The importance of humility (16:28) Making choices around emotions (19:37) Assessing emotional intelligence (22:39) Advice...
Nov 14, 2024•33 min
This week's guest is Annette Johnston. Ron and Annette discussed project management, the role project managers play in decision making, what habits a good project manager should have, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Annette likes (3:02) Her background (4:47) What a technical project plan is (7:45) What we can do to keep a project on track (10:23) The role project managers play in go or no-go decision making (1...
Nov 07, 2024•31 min
This week's guest is Bill Krolicki. Ron and Bill discussed data analytics, automation, the PDCA cycle, knowing if you're winning or losing, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Bill likes (3:25) His background (3:44) What data analytics means (4:55) A Pareto example (7:20) Working with machines and automation (10:36) Making issues visible (14:01) Measuring input well (18:44) Reducing administrative burden (20:27) R...
Oct 31, 2024•29 min
This week's guest is Grace Gavin. Ron and Grace discussed the importance of open and honest communication, what it means to truly listen, the obstacles that get in our way, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Grace likes (3:36) Her background (4:22) Accountability versus open and honest communication (7:10) What else Grace has observed (14:46) Fake You versus The Wall (17:33) The obstacles that get in our way (23:...
Oct 24, 2024•38 min
This week's guest is Garrett Delph. Ron and Garrett discussed Garrett's company Clarity Ops, his take on continuous improvement, what it means to be emotionally neutral, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: Garrett's favorite quote (3:53) His background (4:23) How he uses continuous improvement (7:40) What Garrett looks at when he is assessing a client (8:50) How Garrett approaches the "people" side (12:53) Other indicators ...
Oct 17, 2024•34 min
This week's guest is April Bell. Ron and April discussed how Jack Henry uses Toyota Kata, the power of making predictions, managing remote teams, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote April likes (3:17) Her background (4:45) About Jack Henry (6:46) Their continuous improvement journey (7:31) The concept of "first coach second coach" (11:29) What a learner is working on (14:30) Managing coaching sessions for a remote...
Oct 10, 2024•34 min
This week's guest is Dhana Hanumayya. Ron and Dhana discussed how Dhana uses continuous improvement and quality controls at home, the cause and effect matrix, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Dhana likes (2:43) What Dhana is up to (4:54) What it's like having John Knotts as a coach (7:29) Using quality tools in her daily life (8:09) About the cause and effect matrix (18:08) The first thing Dhana tried (20:05) A...
Oct 03, 2024•27 min
This week's guest is Gregg Miner. Ron and Gregg discussed the difference between "doing" lean and "using" lean, how this applies to leaders, the true definition of lean, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote that inspires Greg (2:23) His background (5:07) What it means to "do" lean (6:28) What lean is (8:54) Why people fall into the trap of "doing" lean (10:13) Why it's so important for leaders to know the differenc...
Sep 26, 2024•32 min
This week's guest is Alfonso Aramburo. Ron and Alfonso discussed Alfonso's experiences with turnarounds, leadership styles, balancing financial restructuring and operational excellence, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote that Alfonso likes (3:22) His background (4:20) How he helps organizations turn things around (7:34) What his role was (13:56) Balancing financial restructuring with operation excellence (14:26) ...
Sep 19, 2024•28 min
This week's guest is Fabrice Desmarescaux. Ron and Fabrice discussed Fabrice's journey towards professional fulfillment and how he helps others find purpose in their life's work. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quotes Fabrice likes (4:32) His background (6:04) How Fabrice discovered he felt unfulfilled (9:27) What's contributing to this crisis (13:21) Encouraging others to tap into their purpose (16:58) Finding value and fulf...
Sep 12, 2024•42 min
This week's guest is Alen Ganic. Ron and Alen, a Senior Lean and Six Sigma Coach at Gemba Academy, discussed the definitions of flow efficiency and resource efficiency, what differentiates them, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: Alen's favorite quote (2:29) His background (4:02) What Alen means by "flow" (6:46) The definition of Flow Efficiency and Resource Efficiency (9:24) A paint booth example (16:17) The key things th...
Sep 05, 2024•31 min
This week's guest is Adam Lawrence. Ron and Adam discussed the Wheel of Sustainability, how it plays into a kaizen event, and how improv can also be a powerful tool in a rapid improvement context. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: His favorite quote (3:45) His background (5:35) The Wheel of Sustainability (6:11) The intention behind the placement (11:39) Whether some are more important than others (12:36) How the Wheel of Sustainab...
Aug 29, 2024•32 min
This week's guest is Ron Crabtree. The two Rons discussed the concept of digital transformation, or digitization, including what it entails, how to navigate these transformations, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this episode you'll learn: The quote Ron likes (2:54) His background (3:22) What a digital transformation or "digitization" means (7:47) An anecdote about a decal manufacturer (11:31) Ron's thoughts on where to start (13:15) The three thi...
Aug 22, 2024•29 min
