Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) sits down with producer Alastair Luke (Attention X) shares the brutally honest truth about what’s really happening six months into the Lean transformation at Sperrin Metal.Customers haven’t seen the benefits yet.Lead times have got worse.The factory is still operationally chaotic.And it’s been the most difficult thing he’s ever done.In this open and unfiltered conversation, Ryan explains what it actually looks like when you try to transform a 63-year-old manufactu...
Mar 02, 2026•44 min
Only a few weeks into taking over Sperrin Metal, Ryan Tierney is revealing the first real progress inside one of the most chaotic factories he has ever stepped into in this podcast recorded live at the Gemba Summit.This is the story of what he found on day one, what has changed already, and how Lean Thinking is beginning to transform a 63-year-old manufacturing company from the inside out.In this first-phase update, Ryan shares the breakthroughs, the challenges, and the mindset shifts that accel...
Nov 24, 2025•25 min
Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) delves deep into Ireland's BIGGEST ever Lean summit, Gemba Summit at Titanic Belfast, Northern Ireland on 20th-21st October 2025.Find out more about Gemba Summit and:- Whit can be your next lean TURNING POINT- Why people are travelling from all over the world to EXPERIENCE lean- HOW you can join some of the world top lean leaders➡️ Book your GEMBA SUMMIT tickets today: https://gembasummit.com➡️ Order the book, LEAN MADE SIMPLE: 12 PROVEN STEPS FOR CREATING A VIBRA...
Aug 25, 2025•21 min
Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) sits down with podcast host Matthew Thompson to get deep into why he has made the boldest move of his life and made a high stake move that will be the ultimate test of lean.🟢 Ryan Tierney leaves his successful business to take on his biggest Lean challenge yet.🟢 Why Sperrin Metal needs more than just tools — it needed a complete culture reset.🟢 Discover the real-world pressures behind buying a struggling factory and leading from the front.🟢 This episode explor...
Jul 21, 2025•29 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with Aiden Rogers from Rolls Royce, one of the world's most prestigious brands to dig deep into how they do lean.✅ Aiden Rogers shares how Rolls-Royce shifted from tool-driven fixes to culture-led continuous improvement.✅ Learn how a 100-year family legacy at Rolls-Royce shaped Aiden’s leadership vision.✅ Discover the power of “fix what bugs you” as a culture-builder, not j...
Jul 14, 2025•33 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with lean officials Phil Catherwood (Welsh Government), Robert Hernan (Enterprise Ireland) and John McClune (Invest Northern Ireland) to talk what it takes to bring lean to the nations. 🌍 Three national leaders share how Ireland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are driving lean transformation at scale. 🌍 Why site visits, clusters, and exemplars are more powerful than PowerPoi...
Jul 14, 2025•30 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with Make UK mentor Mike Dimmack and lean apprentice Ruby Handley to discuss the future of lean in the UK and beyond. ✅ Meet Ruby, a passionate Lean apprentice reshaping how we think about manufacturing at just 20 years old. ✅ Discover how Make UK trains the next generation of engineers through hands-on Lean learning. ✅ Why common sense, not complexity, is the key to great ...
Jul 14, 2025•27 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with Toyota HR General Manager Liam Holmes to talk all things culture and people at the world's best manufacturer. 🔴 Discover how Toyota develops not just cars, but careers – from the production line to leadership. 🔴 Liam shares a 30-year journey of people-first principles and Lean culture. 🔴 Learn the structured training system that gets results and builds loyalty. 🔴 S...
Jun 23, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with former Premier League footballer Thomas Robson Kanu about his journey as an international soccer star turned SME owner and lean practitioner. Premier League to Entrepreneur – Thomas shares how a career-threatening injury became the unlikely spark for a functional wellness brand. Snapped Knee to Secret Weapon – Hear the story behind the homemade turmeric blend that chan...
Jun 16, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with lean PhD Alisha Gibbons.Find out:- What its like being a woman in manufacturing- How can Toyota and others make lean cool- Attracting young people into lean for the future- Is lean really mean?➡️ Work with TOYOTA LEAN MANAGEMENT CENTRE: https://tlmc.toyotauk.com➡️ Order the book, LEAN MADE SIMPLE: 12 PROVEN STEPS FOR CREATING A VIBRANT LEAN CULTURE: https://www.leanmad...
Jun 03, 2025•31 min
In this episode of Lets Talk Lean, Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with Totota senior manager Simon Rowley.Find out:- the three behaviors that all Toyota employees much do- how many times do they stop the line each week?- what its like living lean beyond the workplace- how Toyota finds their next senior employees➡️ Work with TOYOTA LEAN MANAGEMENT CENTRE: https://tlmc.toyotauk.com➡️ Order the book, LEAN MADE SIMPLE: 12 PROVEN STEPS FOR CRE...
Jun 03, 2025•30 min
In this episode Ryan Tierney (Lean Made Simple) and Paul Blahyj (Toyota Lean Management Centre) sit down with Oliver Conger from British Rototherm.Find out:- What its like working with Toyota to teansform an SME- How to be auccess in apllied AI to lean manufacturing- What is the best investment Oliver ever made?➡️ Work with TOYOTA LEAN MANAGEMENT CENTRE: https://tlmc.toyotauk.com➡️ Order the book, LEAN MADE SIMPLE: 12 PROVEN STEPS FOR CREATING A VIBRANT LEAN CULTURE: https://www.leanmadesimple.c...
Jun 03, 2025•25 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this very special episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters announces his final podcast. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: - What lean principle inspired him to take a step back from podcasting. - What Ryan’s new focus will be. - How you can continue to follow Ryan. - How you can support Lean Made Simple in the future Check it out! Links: - Order Ryan’s new book, Lean Made S...
Sep 16, 2024•14 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this very special episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters officially launches his new book Lean Made Simple: 12 Proven Principles for Creating a Vibrant Lean Culture. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: - What inspired Ryan decide to write this one of a kind book? - Why is a vibrant Lean culture so important? - Can Lean succeed without a vibrant Lean culture? - How a vibrant...
Sep 02, 2024•34 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters speaks about the simple concept that changed his life and business and become the building blocks of a vibrant lean culture - thinking of the next person. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: - What does it mean to think of the next person in an organisation? - Who is the 'next person' or customer in a process? - Why this is the fo...
Aug 26, 2024•28 min
Matt Sims is founder of the Ever-So-Lean podcast and a world renowned leadership and lean coach & consultant. He dropped in to the Lean Made Simple studio and shared incredible takeaways from his lean journey. In this episode, Ryan and Matt caught up with him to talk about: • His time as the "Lean Postman" • How he helped Amazon transform its warehouses • How he is teaching kids as young as 8 years old about lean • The one this he wants for young people Check it out! Links: • Matt's website:...
Aug 11, 2024•28 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time.In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters continues to answer your standard work and lean manufacturing questions. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: - Why manufacturers and businesses should be more like McDonald's. - What is the word tithing you can do with a Standard Work. - Should a Standard Work be detailed or high level? - What place should the Standard Work be set ...
Jul 28, 2024•27 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters delves into standard work and how he is in the process of revolutionising his factory by documenting every single process. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about:- What is standard work?- The key piece of advice given to him by world class lean leaders. - What Toyota said about the standard work in his factory. - How to take your firs...
Jul 15, 2024•32 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time.In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters continues to answer your lean manufacturing questions. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: - Is Ryan's factory as good as it looks on YouTube? - Being open to criticism and feedback. - How leaders should let their people find the answers. - Should the owner work ON the business or IN the business? - Serving internal and external cu...
Jul 01, 2024•25 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters answers your lean manufacturing questions. Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: - How much work goes into being a lean company - How to get your people to buy into lean - Ryan's lean recruitment process - How to coach people to follow a standard - Developing a morning meeting that works for your business Check it out! Links: - Book...
Jun 17, 2024•28 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters unpacks what it means to “be the customer.” Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: Why Elon Musk drives a Tesla The powerful alternative to customer surveys A method for generating unlimited improvement ideas for your product How becoming an undercover boss revealed his selfishness as a leader And one action you can take right now to...
Jun 02, 2024•25 min
Russell Watkins is a highly regarded manufacturing expert who has helped transform factories around the world. In this episode, we talk about: His brutally honest advice after touring Ryan’s factory The 3-step process to eliminating motion waste How he developed his supernatural ability to spot burden in others Problems manufacturing businesses face as they scale And the TWO things Ryan HAS TO change about the way his factory is run Check it out! Links: Russell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin....
May 20, 2024•39 min
Patrick Adams is a world-renowned Lean Consultant who has worked with some of the biggest businesses on the planet. In this episode, Ryan and Matt caught up with him to talk about: His time in the military Why he fell in love with manufacturing The most successful Lean Turnaround of his career What most leaders get wrong How to stop employees from asking so many questions Why most bosses struggle with insanity And what Toyota’s Impossible Goal means for your business Check it out! Links: Patrick...
May 06, 2024•33 min
Welcome to Lean Made Simple, a podcast about transforming your business — and life — one step at a time. In this episode, Ryan Tierney from Seating Matters shares the powerful lean concept of "total flow.” Along the way, he and Producer Matt talk about: What Ryan's dentist taught him about manufacturing Why your product should always be flowing to your customer How to turn your factory into a river of value One simple trick to identify blockages in your business The secret behind Toyota's “sea o...
Apr 22, 2024•28 min•Ep. 27
In this episode, Ryan and Matthew explore the transformative shift from Push to Pull systems in business, revealing: How shifting to Pull radically changed Ryan's company Daniel Priestley's advice on "with or without you" energy The secret to attracting customers and talent through pull Everyday applications of push vs. pull concepts How this podcast is a testament to the pull approach Practical steps for businesses to adopt a pull system Check it out! https://www.leanmadesimple.com/podcast/push...
Apr 08, 2024•27 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, Ryan Tierney unveils the hidden key to lean success: Focusing on People Development. He shares enlightening experiences and practical advice on: How ignoring people development causes lean initiatives to fail The critical mistake of seeing lean as merely physical changes How to build a thriving people development system Learning the true essence of lean from Yellotools Starting every day with a purpose-driven morning meeting Encouraging employees to pursue their dreams and start...
Mar 25, 2024•23 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, Tom Hughes and Matthew Thompson dive into the transformative power of STANDARD WORK. In the conversation we cover: The three root causes of errors in the workplace Why even a loose wire can unleash chaos The surprising role of standard work in fostering a culture of continuous improvement The critical importance of documenting methods for task accomplishment Speeding up operations by eliminating unnecessary steps How "GembaDocs" revolutionizes standard work documentation and com...
Mar 11, 2024•27 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, Ryan Tierney and Matthew Thompson dive into KANBAN INVENTORY, where they talk about: How to be "firefighter ready" for any customer demand The three essential tools for transforming inventory management The simplicity and effectiveness of Kanban Ryan's journey from inventory chaos to streamlined operations How to manage vast inventory with minimal stress Actionable steps for immediately applying these strategies in your own business Check it out! https://www.leanmadesimple.com/p...
Feb 26, 2024•29 min•Ep. 23
Hugh Carnahan (Small Biz Rescue) & Jack Bussey (JJB Corporation) are lean maniacs from two different parts of the world, with a love of simplicity and freeing people from burden. In this episode we talk about: How lean can develop you into a public speaker Going to Japan to study lean The power of 3Sing How to stop doing things the way you’ve always done them And the importance of “cloning yourself” Check it out! Links: Hugh’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillbillymillionaire/?hl=en-...
Feb 12, 2024•18 min•Ep. 18
In this episode, Ryan Tierney delves into the transformative concept of STOP AND FIX, unlocking its potential to: Empower employees at all levels to initiate positive changes Enhance quality control and reduce operational defects Develop a culture of proactive problem-solving Achieve the high quality standards of Toyota Transform stress into success in your personal life Check it out! https://www.leanmadesimple.com/podcast/stop-and-fix Links: Book a Lean Made Simple Tour: https://www.leanmadesim...
Jan 29, 2024•27 min•Ep. 22
