Mark on the "Competing Podcast"

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Thanks to Dwight Bowen for having me as a guest on his excellent podcast series. I chatted with Dwight about my book and the applications of Lean methods in healthcare and hospitals. Hope you enjoy the podcast.

Update on the book -- still targeted for late July, the book actually went to print a bit early. On time delivery!! (Knock on wood). I hope you also think the quality of the book is to high standards as well!



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LeanBlog Podcast #47 - Norman Bodek

Norman Bodek is once again back for episode #47 of the LeanBlog Podcast, talking about his most recent trip to Japan (his 68th trip!). He poses the question, "What can we do to leapfrog Toyota?" Norman asks important questions about how we can help people, in any role, enjoy their work, rather than dreading Mondays. Why does Norman think the Canon photocopier plant he just toured is the best he's ever seen? Why does Norman disagree with the phrase, "Work smarter, not harder"??

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

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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Episode #47 Key Words and Links:

• Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way, recommended by Norman for its discussion of the "respect for people" principle.
• Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford as the fathers of modern industrial engineering -- and repetitive work, as opposed to people being master craftsmen. This repetitive work created income for workers who were uneducated, even "if the work was denigrating, boring, and tedious"
  
• Ideas Are Free: How the Idea Revolution Is Liberating People and Transforming Organizations, by Alan Robinson
  
• Do 60 or 80% of people "hate" their job? How can we help people enjoy their work?
• What is a "supermeister" in a Canon factory?
  

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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LeanBlog Podcast #46 -- Dean Bliss, Lean Healthcare

Episode #46 is a chat with a good friend of the Lean Blog, Dean Bliss, a Lean Improvement Specialist with the Iowa Health System. Like myself, Dean made a transition in from manufacturing into health care a few years back, he'll share some of his experiences and recommendations for how to use Lean in a hospital and how to make that transition. He will also share some stories about how his hospital prioritized what problems to solve with the Lean methodology.

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

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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Episode #46 Key Words and Links:

• Lean in hospitals, making a transition from manufacturing into hospitals, how to get started with Lean in a hospital, what are the differences between working with people in these different settings?
  
• Iowa Healthcare Collaborative
• World Research Group event, June 25-26
• The 2nd Annual Summit on Deploying the Toyota Production System & Lean Healthcare in Hospitals

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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LeanBlog Podcast #45 - Gwendolyn Galsworth, "Visual Displays"

Episode #45 is another conversation with Dr. Gwendolyn Galsworth, who you might remember from Episode #26 last year. In this episode, we talk about "Visual Displays," a topic from her Shingo Prize-winning book Visual Workplace, Visual Thinking: Creating Enterprise Excellence Through the Technologies of the Visual Workplace. Gwendolyn established Quality Methods International (QMI) in 1991 as a consulting, training and research firm, specializing in the Visual Workplace.

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

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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Episode #45 Key Words:

• Visuality and Visual Displays
• Production control boards
• Visual displays and dashboards

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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LeanBlog Podcast #44 - Ralph Keller, AME

Episode #44 of the LeanBlog Podcast is a conversation with Ralph Keller, the President of AME, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. Today, we're discussing AME and their upcoming regional conference in San Diego, to be held June 9 to 11, 2008. You can also read Ralph's "Continuous Improvement" column in IndustryWeek (click here to subscribe for free).

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

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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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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LeanBlog Podcast #43 - Mike Micklewright, "What Would Deming Say?"

Episode #43 of LeanBlog Podcast is a very special one. My guest is Mike Mickleright, writer, consultant, and performer -- most interesting to me is his impersonation of Dr. W. Edwards Deming. As I wrote about before, I've seen his DVD and Mike agreed to create this podcast with me. We start off talking with Mike about his background with Dr. Deming and how he created the impersonation. Then, we shift into me interviewing Mike as Dr. Deming, asking him some questions on modern quality approaches including Lean and Six Sigma.

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

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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Enhanced AAC File (with Chapters)

"Dr. Deming" interview portion only (MP3 File)

LeanBlog Podcast #43 Key Points & Links

• Quality Quest (http://www.mikemick.com/)
• Dr. W. Edwards Deming (wikipedia)
• The Deming Institute
• "Dr. Deming" (as performed by Mike) on Lean
• "Dr. Deming" (as performed by Mike) on Six Sigma

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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LeanBlog Podcast #42 - Martin Hinckley, Mistake Proofing

This is LeanBlog Podcast episode #42 with Dr. C. Martin Hinckley, of the firm Assured Quality. He is the author of the book "Make No Mistake!: An Outcome-Based Approach to Mistake-Proofing," available through Productivity Press. We'll talk about his book and approaches for teaching people how to develop mistake proofing in processes.

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

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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LeanBlog Podcast #42 Key Points & Links

• Some mistake proofing examples from Dr. Hinckley's site


• Upcoming webinar on mistake proofing on May 15 (via http://www.visualworkplace.com/)

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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LeanBlog Podcast #41 - Jeff Liker, Toyota Culture, Part 3

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #41 with Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Liker is most recently the co-author (with Michael Hoseus) of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and many other books, which can be found here on amazon.com. This is part 3 of our recent series. Today, we talk about the development of managers within a Lean organization.

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

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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LeanBlog Podcast #41 Key Points & Links

• From a listener: Many companies shift managers around almost constantly. How does Toyota develop their managers in a way that helps encourage "respect for people?"
• Other companies where Toyota can find similar leaders: NUMMI, Subaru
• Developing vs hiring leaders -- does your culture just evolve or do you teach the culture?
• 3 years is typically the rule of thumb for how long a manager should be in place, more important, though, is who is there in the workgroup who provides leadership? Is there someone to pick up the leadership gap if one person leavfes?
• Toyota does rotate leaders to develop people
• With the "quality people value stream," you should be developing people every day
• Dr. Liker talks about his firm Optiprise
  

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LeanBlog Podcast #40 - A UAW Retiree on Lean

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #40, an interview with a retired UAW/GM employee who wishes to remain anonymous, at this point. We have traded many emails over the past year, about Lean, and I'm impressed with this individual's true passion for Lean and Toyota Production System concepts. We both agree that the "root cause" of many Lean struggles comes back to management's inability to create trust and to give up some control to the employees who actually do the work. The intent here, from my perspective, is not "management bashing," but rather to illustrate that there are some on the UAW side who "get it" and success is going to require true cooperation and sacrifices on both sides.

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

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LeanBlog Podcast #40 Key Points & Key Words

• "Quality Network" - GM and the UAW
  
• GM had been working with Lean methods since the early 1990's, but not associating it with "Lean" (Toyota) until this decade
  
• The need for trust and culture change -- changing the "them vs. us" attitude

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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LeanBlog Podcast #39 - Jeff Liker, Toyota Culture, Part 2

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #39, once again featuring Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Liker is most recently the co-author (with Michael Hoseus) of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and many other books, which can be found here on amazon.com. This is part 2 of what will be a 3-part podcast series, so be sure to check back. Today, we talk about some of the challenges that organizations face in trying to adopt a Lean Culture.

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

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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LeanBlog Podcast #39 Key Points & Links

• Will Dr. Liker be writing more about companies who have gone through the Lean culture transformation, examples other than Toyota, ala his earlier book, Becoming Lean: Inside Stories of U.S. Manufacturers?


• Bob Emiliani's book on Wiremold: Better Thinking, Better Results Case Study and Analysis of an Enterprise-Wide Lean Transformation


• Why is it so hard to find examples of companies that have really adopted a Lean culture?


• Thoughts on the impact of top American leaders departing Toyota (Jim Press and Gary Convis)

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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A Podcast with Jamie Flinchbaugh

No, not my podcast (but I'm hoping to do another episode with Jamie soon).

This podcast is the first in a seriesdeveloped by Bosch Rexroth’s Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies group, each eight- to ten-minute lean manufacturing podcast episode will present guest experts and information to help manufacturers and OEMs understand and apply lean principles and practices in their businesses.

The first episode, with Jamie, can be found here. In the episode, called“Developing Front-line Supervisors to Succeed in a Lean Environment:"

Flinchbaugh examines the critical role front-line supervisors play in helping their companies successfully implement and sustain lean manufacturing practices. He also discusses guidelines for ensuring that supervisors are effectively trained and supported to fulfill their roles in lean operations. All too often, he says, front-line supervisors who are expected to perform in a lean environment are not equipped with the specific skills they need compared to those used by traditional supervisors.

Check it out. A lot of what Jamie says would also apply to hospitals. I like the phrase "taking super workers and making them supervisors." We can all do a better job of training new managers and supervisors about how to be leaders, with Lean or without.

Update: If you have iTunes, you can get to the podcast series via this link.

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LeanBlog Podcast #38 - Bob Emiliani, "Practical Lean Leadership"

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #38, our guest today is Bob Emiliani of the Center for Lean Business Management and, most recently, the author of Practical Lean Leadership: A Strategic Leadership Guide For Executives. It's a workbook-style guide that forces you to think through your own leadership approach and your own situation, a book I enjoyed very much. In this podcast, we talk about "lean leadership," "value added behaviors," and some pitfalls to avoid in lean implementations.

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

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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LeanBlog Podcast #38 Key Points & Key Words

How Bob first got involved with Lean and, especially, the leadership component.

What's different about this new Lean book?

What are some examples of "non-value-added" management activities or behaviors?

A definition of kaizen that emphasizes that kaizen cannot be sub-optimizing, you must look at the whole

Some errors to avoid in Lean implementation, avoiding "fake Lean"

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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LeanBlog Podcast #37 - Jeff Liker, Toyota Culture, Part 1 of 3

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #37, once again featuring Dr. Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Liker is most recently the co-author (with Michael Hoseus) of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way and many other books, which can be found here on amazon.com. This is part 1 of what will be a 3-part podcast series, so be sure to check back.

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

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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LeanBlog Podcast #37 Key Points

• Overview of the book, how it builds on the previous books.
• The people part is such a foundation of the Toyota Way, had to expand upon it.
• Looking at the cultural assumptions in the 14 principles.
• In the book, seeing a "day in the life" of a Toyota supervisor.
• Get a clearer picture of the "respect for people" principle throughout the book
• Thoughts on implementing Lean the "wrong way."
  

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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More from Emiliani and Upcoming Podcast

Superfactory - Article: The Equally Important "Respect for People" Principle by Bob Emiliani

Here's a recent article from Bob that was hosted on superfactory.com about the Toyota Way principle of "Respect for People." It's a very well annotated history of writings and references about this oft-forgotten principle. If you're skeptical about the origins or importance of this principle, please check out his article. "Continuous improvement" is not the only important Toyota Way principle. "Continuous improvement" and "respect for people" are of equal importance, according to Toyota.

From the article:

Lean community leaders have recently made two huge changes in how they present Lean. The first change is Lean as a management system rather than “Lean manufacturing.” Second, they are finally taking note of the long-established “Respect for People” principle. Why now? In part because there have been so few successful Lean transformations over the last 20 years. Another reason is that most other aspects of the Lean management system have been studied in detail, so this is the next territory to explore. This batch-and-queue non-integrative approach has severely increased the lead-time needed to properly educate people about Lean management – particularly the “Respect for People” principle.

I have a podcast interview with Bob scheduled for Saturday. If you have questions about that article or his most recent book, Practical Lean Leadership: A Strategic Leadership Guide For Executives, send me an email at leanpodcast [at] gmail [dot] com.

You can listen to my previous podcast with Bob here.

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LeanBlog Podcast #36 - Norm Bodek on the new Shingo Book

LeanBlog Podcast #36 once again features our friend and frequent guest, Norman Bodek, noted lean author, consultant, and President of PCS Press. In this episode, Norman talks about his most recent publication, a text by the legendary Shigeo Shingo, called Kaizen and the Art of Creative Thinking - The Scientific Thinking Mechanism, as well as future publications he is working on. This was recorded back in 2007, before the book was published (it has now been out in publication for a few months, I apologize for the delay in getting this podcast released).

If you enjoy this podcast, I hope you'll check out the rest of the series by visiting the LeanBlog podcast main page.

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Keywords and Main Points, Episode #36

• You can find the book here via enna.com, or amazon.com.
  

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.

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LeanBlog Podcast #35 - David Meier

LeanBlog Podcast #35 is another discussion with David Meier, co-author of the book Toyota Talent, written with Dr. Jeffrey Liker. In this podcast, we follow up our previous discussion (Podcast #31) to talk about the upcoming Toyota books, as well as some of the leadership challenges that companies face with working with Lean.

If you enjoy this podcast, I hope you'll check out the rest of the series by visiting the LeanBlog podcast main page at http://www.leanpodcast.org/.

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Keywords and Main Points, Episode #35

• The next books coming in the series - Toyota Culture, Toyota Process, Toyota Problem Solving


• Hearing comments about how companies have trouble sustaining Lean after 3 or 5 years -- why is that happening and what's missing?


• Talking about the LEI survey on why companies struggle with Lean (link)


• How is the Toyota San Antonio plant creating a system of systematic continuous improvement?


• Following the stand problem solving methodology to find out why a company is struggling with Lean...


• Instead of being punative, leaders need to be more inspirational


• Need to move away from blaming


• Leadership has to communicate the message


• His website: http://www.thetoyotaway.org/

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.

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Starting to Read "Toyota Culture"

I've read the first chapter of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way. I'm obviously not going to get through the whole thing before my podcast interview with Jeff Liker tomorrow. If you have questions for the podcast, let me know today.

The first chapter provides a good overview and framework around the general question of "so what is a company or organizational culture?" Liker and his co-authors cover some of the aspects of what is "Toyota Culture" versus "Japanese Culture" and the influences that Japan has had on Toyota and how the culture has changed or adapted in the West.

The authors are pretty blunt in their assessment that many companies are implementing Lean the wrong way -- with failure modes including:

• Viewing Lean as a "toolkit"
• Wanting central control, powerpoint reviews, and obsessive cost justification
• Wanting to do Lean everywhere all at once instead of starting with a model line area

There's also a great story from co-author Hoseus from his time working a line at Toyota in Japan. He created a small scratch inside a wheelwell and thought, "Maybe I could get away with that... should I pull the andon cord or not?" He pulled the cord, alerting the team leader of the problem. He not only got coaching on how to avoid that problem again (instead of getting yelled at), but the team members APPLAUDED him for admitting to a mistake. That sort of behavior is pretty rare among companies that are implementing the Lean tools without really focusing on their culture and behaviors.

There's also some pretty blunt talk about the differences between Six Sigma and Lean. The authors say that the Six Sigma view of "Y = f (X)" is an overly simplistic view of work as consisting of a bunch of independent variables, instead of viewing a workplace as a complex system. I'm sorry to stoke the sometimes contentious debate about Six Sigma and Lean, but I'm curious to see if the authors talk about this more.

There's a lot of great knowledge in this book for just $20.

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LeanBlog Podcast #34 -- Chris Harris, Lean Workforces

LeanBlog Podcast #34 is a discussion with Chris Harris, from Harris Lean Systems, and co-author of the book Developing a Lean Workforce: A Guide for Human Resources, Plant Managers and Lean Coordinators. You can also purchase the book through Productivity Press.



If you enjoy this podcast, I hope you'll check out the rest of the series by visiting the LeanBlog podcast main page. Now that my book manuscript is done, I'm going to get back into regular podcasting, with episodes in the coming weeks featuring Norman Bodek, David Meier, and Jeffrey Liker. Let me know if you have questions for Dr. Liker, using the contact info at the bottom of this post.




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Keywords and Main Points, Episode #34

• Chris started working the assembly line at Toyota, then became a production supervisor at both Toyota and a different Tier 1 auto supplier.


• Focusing on the people is key, assuming most people want to do a good job.


• What's the proper role of a "Lean Coordinator"?
  
• What's the right role for a supervisor or a team leader? How do you make that transition?
  
• "The same reason Lean succeeds is the same reason it fails.... leadership."
  

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.

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LeanBlog Podcast #33 -- Jim Huntzinger, Lean Accounting Summit

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #33, a new interview with Jim Huntzinger, the President of the Lean Accounting Summit. In this Podcast, Jim gives us an update on the recent Summit and talks about some of the latest trends in Lean Accounting.

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 computer or MP3 player.

MP3 File (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.

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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LeanBlog Podcast #32 - Norman Bodek in Japan

LeanBlog Podcast #32 once again features our friend and frequent guest, Norman Bodek, noted lean author, consultant, and President of PCS Press. In this episode, Norman talks about his recent study trip to Japan and what he saw there. If you enjoy this podcast, I hope you'll check out the rest of the series by visiting the LeanBlog podcast main page.

It's also "Norm Bodek Week" in the Lean blogosphere, apparently (via Evolving Excellence).

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Keywords and Main Points, Episode #32

• Trip to Japan
• The use of videotape to analyze the process to look for waste, with the employeesThe purpose of standard work (and kaizen)
• Going after waste relentlessly
• People writing down that they make mistakes
• Shingo said, "we make mistakes, but we don't want defects"
• "Poka yoke" and error proofing
• The use of automation and temporary labor
• Norman -- "how ROI, short-term thinking is killing America"
• Norman is going on another study mission in April 2008 -- go with him! Contact Norman through his website at pcspress.com about that

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