Episodes

  • GA 565 | Continuous Improvement in Higher Education with Dr. Brad Miller

    GA 565 | Continuous Improvement in Higher Education with Dr. Brad Miller
    Jan 30 2025
    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 classes (13:53) About his grocery store checkout simulation (18:37) How mixing different personalities works (21:39) Balancing "getting it right" with experimenting (32:38) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Brad on LinkedIn Brad on YouTube Brad on the University of Houston Site Inside Brad's Classroom GA 111 | How to Teach Continuous Improvement GA 310 | The Role of Motivation in Continuous Improvement 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? What else can we learn from the way continuous improvement is taught at the university level?
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • GA 564 | ISO 9001 and Continuous Improvement with Ridha Dhrifi

    GA 564 | ISO 9001 and Continuous Improvement with Ridha Dhrifi
    Jan 23 2025
    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 value (10:42) How lean thinking can help and harmonize (12:45) How current and future state works in ISO (14:16) Combining ISO and lean (16:30) Advice for a quality manager on balancing compliance and operational efficiency (20:03) How long it takes to realize ISO 9001 certification (22:49) The order of operations (25:44) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Ridha on LinkedIn Integration of the Lean in ISO 9001 Integration of the Lean in Chemical Industry 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? What are the upsides to combining lean and ISO? The downsides?
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • GA 563 | Habits Over Resolutions with Ron Pereira

    GA 563 | Habits Over Resolutions with Ron Pereira
    Jan 16 2025
    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) Measure your progress (14:22) Eliminate waste (15:15) Standardizing the approach (16:22) Sustaining these habits over time (17:50) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 GA 261 | Building the Habit of Excellence with James Clear 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? What are some new habits you'd like to form this year?
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • GA 562 | Lean in the Prison Industry with Brandon Bunn

    GA 562 | Lean in the Prison Industry with Brandon Bunn
    Jan 9 2025
    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 that are being done (12:13) Some of the obstacles (18:28) The role that motivation plays (26:02) Brandon's advice for those in similar situations (28:33) How lean leaders can get involved (30:45) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Brandon on LinkedIn 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 else can lean be used to change lives in profound ways?
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • GA 561 | People and Process Integration with Beau Groover

    GA 561 | People and Process Integration with Beau Groover
    Jan 2 2025
    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 example of improvement Beau has seen (23:46) Beau's final words of wisdom (27:29) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Beau's Website Beau on LinkedIn Building a Kick-Ass Culture: 20 Effective Steps 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? What are some other challenges of people and process integration?
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • GA 560 | Flow Engineering with Steve Pereira

    GA 560 | Flow Engineering with Steve Pereira
    Dec 26 2024
    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 applications (25:03) The reception he's gotten on the book (27:44) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Flow Engineering GA 382 | Simplifying Value Stream Mapping with Steve Pereira Steve on LinkedIn Visible Flow Consulting 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? What are your thoughts on the concept of flow engineering?
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • GA 559 | Organizational Problem Solving with Matt White

    GA 559 | Organizational Problem Solving with Matt White
    Dec 19 2024
    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 scientific thinking plays a role (15:09) Using the language of the company (16:43) Getting the right people involved (20:15) The leader's role in problem solving (27:19) Advice for getting leadership commitment (29:30) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Matt on LinkedIn 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? What's your approach to problem solving? What tools do you use?
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • GA 558 | The Power Is in the Question with Topaz Adizes

    GA 558 | The Power Is in the Question with Topaz Adizes
    Dec 12 2024
    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 are actually going on (18:17) The different types of decks they offer (20:02) Topaz's take on AI (24:25) What Topaz doesn't like about people (28:48) His final words of wisdom (30:44) Podcast Resources Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 Topaz on LinkedIn Topaz's Website The Skin Deep 12 Questions for Love: A Guide to Intimate Conversations and Deeper Relationships Prison Couldn't Keep Me From You 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 can you see yourself benefiting from using these thought provoking questions in your everyday life?
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins