LeanBlog Podcast #18 - Eric Christiansen, "A Deming Company"

Here is Episode #18 of the LeanBlog Podcast. My guest today is Eric Christiansen, the President of a translation services company, OmniLingua (more can be found here on their philosophy as a company, being a self-described "Deming Company.) I was interested in talking with Eric about what it means to be a "Deming Company" and about their implementation of "wiki" tools (ala Wikipedia) for managing their standard work and process documentation.

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast. Visit the LeanBlog Podcast page at www.leanpodcast.org for all previous episodes.

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LeanBlog Podcast #14 - Dave Gleditsch, Pelion Systems

LeanBlog Podcast #14 is a discussion with Dave Gleditsch, the Chief Technology Officer for Pelion Systems, a leading provider of software for lean manufacturing applications. I first met Dave after I read his Industry Week columns and traded some emails with him. He has a great background in manufacturing and lean, so I think he has an interesting perspective to share on lean and techonology. Don't worry, this podcast isn't a sales pitch for Pelion's software. I think you'll enjoy the discussion.

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast. Visit the main LeanBlog Podcast page (www.leanpodcast.org) for all previous episodes.

LeanBlog Podcast #15 -- Jim Huntzinger ,"Training Within Ind

LeanBlog Podcast #15 is a new discussion with a previous Podcast guest, Jim Huntzinger. Last time, we talked about the Lean Accounting Summit. This time, we're talking about the renaissance of the "Training Within Industry" program. We'll talk about the origins of this program, the impact it had on Toyota and the Toyota Production System, and why the program is being bought back in the United States and in lean circles. Jim is also organizing a Training Within Industry Summit, June 5-6 of 2007. Check the Show Notes, down below, for more links to TWI resources and information.

LeanBlog Podcast #16 - Jim Baran, Lean Recruiting

LeanBlog Podcast #16 is the first part of two with Jim Baran, the Owner of Value Stream Leadership, a leading recruiting firm that specializes in Lean talent. I've known Jim for a few years now and he's helped me and some colleagues in the past, he's a great recruiter who really takes some interest in you. If you're looking to make a career change or if you're looking for lean talent, I can personally recommend him.

In our discussion, we talk about the state of the job market for folks with lean experience and what helps a lean candidate stand out in the marketplace.


If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast.

LeanBlog Podcast #17 - David Meier, "Lean in China"

LeanBlog Podcast #17 is a discussion with a good friend of the Lean Blog, David Meier, a former Toyota Georgetown Group Leader, founder of Lean Associates, and the co-author of the excellent book, The Toyota Way Fieldbook, and the upcoming Toyota Talent, due out in April (both co-authored with Jeff Liker, check out my Podcasts with him here and here). In this Podcast, we talk about David's recent first hand experiences with factories in China. Are there labor shortages? Is there a lot of waste in Chinese factories? Do the Chinese have good management skills at this point? What lean methods did David see in China? We'll cover all this and more.

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast. Visit the main LeanBlog Podcast page at www.leanpodcast.org for all previous episodes.

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LeanBlog Podcast #14 is a discussion with Dave Gleditsch, the Chief Technology Officer for Pelion Systems, a leading provider of software for lean manufacturing applications. I first met Dave after I read his Industry Week columns and traded some emails with him. He has a great background in manufacturing and lean, so I think he has an interesting perspective to share on lean and techonology. Don't worry, this podcast isn't a sales pitch for Pelion's software. I think you'll enjoy the discussion.

Currently, my Podcast host is having trouble with the streaming player that normally appears here. But, the Podcast has been released in iTunes and you can save the file or listen (on most computers) by using the link below. I'll add the streaming player when it's available again.

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Show Notes and Approximate Time, Episode #14

• 2:00 What prompted you to write your first column?
• 2:30 The real issue was a poor definition of what lean really is, lean has some very concrete things for improving and innovating.
• 3:30 It's not just cost cutting, it's about maximizing customer value with the minimum required resources.
• 4:20 At American Standard, lean helped save the company, but it also became a platform for growth
• 5:00 Do traditionally cost driven people automatically focus on lean as only a cost cutting tool?
• 6:00 In the boardrooms, the real cost is gross margin expansion -- impacting the top line AND the bottom line (lean and six sigma are great tools for that). You can't just cut costs on the path to growth.
• 7:00 How first introduced to lean concepts?
• 9:20 Had a lot of lean experience at HP in the 1980's, worked with Shingo, Hall, Schonberger, etc. Had to try to interpret the original Shingo "Green Book."( A Study of the Toyota Production System from an Industrial Engineering Viewpoint)
• 10:40 Hall's book Zero Inventories
• 11:00 Dave working with Shigeo Shingo
• 12:00 More about Dave's experiences with lean at American Standard
• 15:20 What is Pelion Systems? What services and technology do they offer?
• 18:40 Pelion had the first web kanban portal
• 19:10 What business problem is Pelion helping to solve?
• 20:45 Can technology help speed up or further a culture change?
• 24:00 You have to look at more than manufacturing, but also at how different parts of the companies work together.
• 25:20 What about the The Toyota Way principle about technology? "Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and processes." What about the anti-technology bias that tends to exist in the lean world?
• 30:15 What about companies who have been burned by ERP or technology promises in the past? Does that make it challenging for a software company today? What about technology vendors who seem to promise a "silver bullet" solution for manufacturers?
• 35:00 Is the software industry learning from past rollout mistakes? Are companies using the technology evolving?
• 35:25 How Pelion operates with a clear customer charter, business case, etc.

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast. Click here for the main LeanBlog Podcast page with all previous episodes.

LeanBlog Podcast #13 brings us part 2 of our discussion with James P. Womack of the Lean Enterprise Institute, the author of many books including the classic (published 10 years ago) Lean Thinking and the more recent Lean Solutions. Part 1 can be found by going to www.leanpodcast.org

In the second podcast, Jim discusses the state of manufacturing in China, including some factors to consider when competing with China, or setting up shop in China. Jim talks about the tradeoffs between manufacturing for export versus manufacturing in China for the local market.


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LeanBlog Podcast #12 brings us a special guest, James P. Womack of the
Lean Enterprise Institute, the author of many books including the
classic (published 10 years ago) Lean Thinking and the more recent
Lean Solutions. We ended up talking for about 40 minutes, so I'm
going to split the discussion into two podcasts. In this first part,
we focus more on China's adoption (or lack of adoption) of lean
practices. In the second podcast, Jim talks more about general trends
for China and for those considering doing business in China. Please
visit www.leanpodcast.org for more podcasts in our series.



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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #11, once again with Norman Bodek of PCS Press and the author of many books, including Kaikaku: The Power and Magic of Lean. In this Podcast, we discuss a topic posed by a podcast listener, Bruce from Akron Ohio: how do you educate your top leadership about lean? Norman and I discuss the perspectives of CEOs and executives toward lean, change, and their organizations and some examples of lean problem solving approaches. It's a long podcast (about 40 minutes), so I'd suggest you check out the show notes to find times of specific topics if you want to jump around.


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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #10, again with Jamie Flinchbaugh, Founder of and Partner with the Lean Learning Center and co-author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean. In this Podcast, we respond to an audio question from blog listener Bruce from Akron OH. The topic is how to educate your organization's leadership about lean and how to get them excited about your lean efforts.


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LeanBlog Podcast Episode #9, is a discussion with David Mann, the author of the excellent book Creating A Lean Culture: Tools To Sustain Lean Conversions. In this Podcast, we will talk about Steelcase's experience with the their lean efforts and the realization that they required a "Lean Management System" for supervisors, managers, and leaders. We'll talk about what that means, why it's a critical feature of their Lean System and how to start making the transition to being a "lean leader."


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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #8, an interview with Jim Huntzinger, the President of the Lean Accounting Summit. In this Podcast, we will talk about the notion of "Lean Accounting" and some of the ways that traditional cost accounting and managerial accounting can come into conflict with our lean transformation efforts. You might think, "I'm an engineer, what do I need to know about accounting?" But trust me, you need to learn about this topic so you can understand what drives some of the decisions your management might make and how they might need to change their approach to be more compatible with lean.


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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #7, a new discussion with our friend Norman Bodek, President of PCS Press and the author of many books, including Kaikaku: The Power and Magic of Lean. In this Podcast, we discuss Toyota's response to recent quality problems and recalls along with other Lean leadership topics.

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast.


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This is the second part of my conversation with Jamie Flinchbaugh, founder and partner with the Lean Learning Center and co-author of the book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean." . In the first part of the discussion, we talked about the specific language of waste reduction. This episode focuses on leadership's role in identifying waste and driving it out of your organization. If you'd like to hear the first part with Jamie, or earlier podcasts with Norman Bodek and Jeff Liker, you can visit www.leanpodcast.org for more information.


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Here is LeanBlog Podcast #5, with a new guest: Jamie Flinchbaugh, Founder and Partner in the Lean Learning Center and co-author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean. In this Podcast, we talk about the "language of waste" and how waste reduction is a critical tool in the implementation of lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. There will be a second Podcast to follow, where we focus more on the role of leadership in driving waste out of your processes.

If you're a regular Lean Blog reader, you should recognize Jamie as a valued contributor to the blog. Click here for a link to some of his blog posts. Prior to starting the Lean Learning Center, Jamie was part of the development, training and implementation of the Chrysler Operating System. Jamie also worked at DTE Energy, parent to Detroit Edison, as a lean thought leader to help transform the operations, leadership and thinking of the utility industry towards a philosophy of lean systems. You can read more about his background here on Jamie's bio page.

You can use the player (use the VCR-type controls) below to listen to a "streaming" version of the podcast (or click here for the streaming audio and RSS subscription). The streaming link is faster for one-time listening (hardly any delay to start listening). Or you can use the download link to put it on your iPod or other MP3 player.

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Right-Click to "Save As"

For earlier episodes, visit the main Podcast page, which includes information on how to subscribe via RSS or via Apple iTunes.

LeanBlog Podcast #5 Show Notes and Approximate Timeline

• 1:15 Why does Jamie use the terminology "hatred for waste" in the book?
• 2:00 We need to not just identify waste, we need to be compelled to fix it, to take action.
• 2:20 Do companies get hung up in the "analysis" phase
• 3:10 Waste elimination is a "tool" and should be a daily activity
• 4:00 Do some companies waste three months by analyzing things, because they're afraid of doing the wrong thing?
• 4:40 Is there a risk of focusing on waste so much that you ignore your customer needs and value creation?
• 5:15 Jamie says "waste elimination should be an act unto itself" as opposed to just being the end goal of a different lean activity
• 5:40 Jamie talks about the value of "waste walks"
• 6:45 The "language of lean" and the types of waste
• 9:00 Discussion about "Waste" and "value," the balance between the two -- can you eliminate waste, but become irrelevant to your customer?
• 11:00 Can insourcing steps of the value stream help add more value in certain cases?
• 12:30 Most lean efforts are still manufacturing-centric and the amount of value you can provide is limited
• Jamie's most recent column in Assembly Magazine can be found here. Click here for an archive of Jamie's columns.

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast.

This is the second part of my discussion with Dr. Jeff Liker of the University of Michigan and his books, including "The Toyota Way" . This time, we focus on "lean healthcare" or the applications of lean in hospital settings, waste elimination, and problem solving.


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My guest today is Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is the Director of the Japan Technology Management Program and co-Director of the lean manufacturing program.

This will be the first of two podcast episodes with Dr. Liker. Today, we discuss the transition from “lean manufacturing” to “lean enterprise”, some of the challenges companies face in becoming lean, and some of the methods that Toyota uses to further the Toyota Production System.


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In this podcast, I talk with Norman Bodek, author, lean consultant, and Toyota Production System expert. We talk about the Toyota principle of "respect for humanity" and how to stop blaming individual employees for problems or defects. Management is responsible for the design of the system, and therefore are also responsible for the results. Visit www.leanblog.org for more information.


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please visit www.leanblog.org


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