What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Catherine McDonald, Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Randy Kesterson discuss the integration of AI with Lean thinking on the Lean Solutions Podcast. They emphasize the importance of maintaining human judgment and involvement in the process. They also discuss the need for accurate data collection and the potential for AI to transform workplaces, urging leaders to embrace AI to stay relevant.About the Guest:Today’s guest is Randy Kesterson, a seasoned operations executive, consultant, and thought leader with over three decades of experience in manufacturing, supply chain, and Lean transformation. Randy’s career includes executive roles at companies like Eastman Chemical and J.M. Huber Corporation, where he led significant enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives.As a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a skilled coach, Randy helps organizations achieve operational excellence through practical strategies grounded in real-world experience. He currently serves as a trusted advisor and consultant, guiding leaders across industries in strategy deployment, leadership development, and continuous improvement.Links:Click Here For Randy Kesterson's LinkedInClick Here For Kesterson Group Website
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46:29
Spotlight Episode: Respect for People in Lean Leadership
What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Patrick Adams, Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Scott Gauvin discuss how the principle of "respect for people" goes beyond individual actions to become an organizational-wide practice that fosters culture transformation, engagement, and continuous improvement. They explore strategies for leaders to cultivate a learning culture, emphasizing active listening, transparency, and coaching to develop human skills and create lasting change within organizations.About the Guest:Scott Gauvin is a management consultant and Lean specialist with 30 years of experience helping organizations transform the way they perceive and pursue performance. As CEO of Macresco and co-founder of the Respect for People Roadmap, he’s partnered with organizations worldwide and across industries to innovate their business and operating models and put people at the center of their corporate and operations strategies.Links:THE RESPECT FOR PEOPLE ROAD - WEBSITECLICK HERE FOR SCOTT GAUVIN LINKEDIN
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43:18
Spotlight Episode: "Rethinking Failure"
What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald as they discuss the importance of reframing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a negative event.About the Hosts:Catherine McDonald is a Lean and Leadership Coach. Her work involves training and coaching executives and teams in organizations of all types and sizes. In 2018, Catherine started her own business- MCD Consulting where she works as a Lean and Leadership Coach. She specializes in Lean deployment in non-manufacturing industries, including food, retail, education, non-profit, health care, event management, hospitality and media.Patrick Adams is an internationally recognized leadership coach, consultant and professional speaker. He is best known for his unique human approach to sound team building practices, creating consensus and enabling empowerment.Patrick has been delivering bottom-line results through specialized process improvement solutions for over 20 years. He’s worked with all types of businesses from private, non-profit, government, and manufacturing ranging from small business to billion-dollar corporations. Patrick is an Author of the best selling book, Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap.Links:Click Here For Catherine McDonald’s LinkedInClick Here For Patrick Adams’ LinkedIn
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46:13
Beyond the Tools
What You’ll Learn:In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Catherine McDonald, and guest Cheryl Jekiel discuss the transition from using Lean as a collection of tools to embedding it into behavioral perspective. They emphasize the importance of behavioral change over tool implementation and highlight the need for clear vision, peer support, and top-down alignment to drive sustainable change.About the Guest:Cheryl Jekiel, Founder of the Lean Leadership Center, works with people-centric organizations that require the right people strategies and systems to achieve their business vision. Ms. Jekiel has developed expertise in optimizing lean manufacturing cultures while working with various organizations on their transformational journeys. Before opening the Lean Leadership Center, Ms. Jekiel held numerous senior leadership roles, including leading operations, human resources, and chief operating officer. As the author of “Lean Human Resources: Redesigning HR Practices for a Culture of Continuous Improvement”, Ms. Jekiel illuminates the role of HR in how organizations optimize people’s talents. Ms. Jekiel also has a best seller, “Let Go to Lead: Six Habits for Happier, More Independent Teams (With Less Stress and More Time for Yourself)”.Links:Click Here For Cheryl Jekiel LinkedInClick Here For Lean Leadership Center Website
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47:08
Cultural Transformation
What You’ll Learn:In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Andy Olrich, and guest Steve Spear discuss the evolution of industry, emphasizing the importance of cultural shifts driven by Lean thinking. They interview Steve Spears, a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan, who highlights the role of innovation in organizational transformation.About the Guest:Steve Spear is a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan, founder of the software firm See to Solve, and author of Wiring the Winning Organization (with Gene Kim) and The High-Velocity Edge. His work, featured in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and The New York Times, focuses on solving complex organizational challenges through innovation, systems thinking, and technology.Spear’s ideas have shaped product design at Pratt & Whitney, accelerated pharma development cycles, and optimized operations at firms like Intel, Alcoa, and DTE Energy. He has advised the U.S. Army’s Rapid Equipping Force and the Navy’s Chief of Naval Research, aiding in tech deployment and operational innovation.Links:Click Here For Steve Spear's LinkedInClick Here For "See to Solve" Website
This podcast offers business solutions to help listeners develop and implement action plans for lean process improvement and implement continuous improvement projects, cost reductions, product quality enhancements, and process effectiveness improvement. Listeners come from many industries in both manufacturing and office applications.
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