Episode #85 is a conversation with David Meier, a former Toyota Georgetown Group Leader and the co-author of the books The Toyota Way Fieldbook and Toyota Talent: Developing Your People the Toyota Way. With Toyota facing widespread attention during the 2010…
Listen: 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. If you enjoy this podcast, I hope…
For those of you who listen to the LeanBlog Podcasts using the streaming player in the browser, that is now fixed. That had been broken for Podcasts #14 (Dave Gleditsch) through #17 (David Meier). If you were unable to listen…
Here is a response to the Lean Challenge contest entry (click here to read the situation submitted by Rich, a blog reader). Click on the “Contest” link at the bottom of this post to see more responses. If you have…
As you may know, if you’re a regular Lean Blog reader, this isn’t a solo venture. I’m happy to have other bloggers on the site and I’m happy to add one more: David Meier, co-author of the outstanding book The…
TL;DR: Kaizen means “change for the better.” Everyone improves their own work, one small change at a time, using the scientific method. It’s not a suggestion box — it’s collaborative, fast, and action-oriented. Success depends on leadership engagement and psychological…
TL;DR: Psychological safety in Lean organizations means people can surface problems, admit mistakes, and challenge assumptions without fear. It is not about comfort or lowering standards–it is the foundation that makes Respect for People, learning, and continuous improvement possible. In…
When I launched the My Favorite Mistake podcast in September 2020, I hoped to create space for leaders and innovators to share the moments they wished they could take back — and more importantly, what they learned from them. Five…
Blame-based cultures kill improvement. Leaders must resolve to build trust and safety if they want innovation and engagement. During Katie Anderson‘s Japan Study Trip this past November, a participant shared an observation with me that resonated deeply: “The biggest challenge…
Twelve years later, I realized I had already met the legendary Toyota leader on my very first Lean trip to Japan. Here’s what I learned then–and what I’m still learning now. I’m very excited to depart for Japan on Sunday…
This episode of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast explores psychological safety in Lean leadership through the lens of Toyota’s culture, with insights from Mike Hoseus, former Toyota leader and co-author of Toyota Culture. We discuss how respect for people, andon…
tl;dr: Shingo renamed “foolproofing” to poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) after the old term made a worker cry. The lesson holds: blame doesn’t prevent defects, and respecting people is what makes zero defects possible. I’m currently working on a Mistake Proofing class for…
