Lean Six Sigma for Good Podcast

Brion Hurley: Lean Six Sigma for Good
  • 5.0 (5)
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A business podcast dedicated to teaching and sharing how the popular business improvement methodologies of Lean and Six Sigma can be applied to environmental impacts (water, air emissions, solid waste, trash, rubbish, hazardous waste, toxins, and energy) and societal issues (homelessness, government agencies, education, healthcare, gender equality, poverty, etc). These techniques and principles can help businesses, nonprofit organizations, NGO's, not-for-profit organizations and local communities save money, engage employees and residents, and become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at LeanSixSigmaForGood.com Keywords: Lean, Six Sigma, Environment, Sustainability, Green, Energy Reduction, Energy Conservation, Carbon Footprint, Triple Bottom Line, Eco-friendly, Environmental Sustainability, Water Conservation, Lean Six Sigma, Business Improvement, Process Efficiency, Zero Waste, Waste Reduction, Efficiency, Poverty, Donations, Homelessness, Healthcare

  1. 6D AGO

    E124: Applying Data to Food Quality and Safety with Eric Moore

    In this episode, I share an interview with Eric Moore, Global Director of Food Safety & Industry Outreach at Testo Solutions, where we discuss Food Safety and Quality, Sustainability, and Innovative Data Monitoring.Eric delves into his extensive 25-year career in food safety, beginning with his education in hospitality at Penn State University and his early career experiences in higher education dining services. He discusses his transition to a full-time food safety professional, highlighting the importance of operational food safety and the various roles he has undertaken. He elaborates on the integration of sustainability efforts, such as composting and reducing food waste within the food industry. He also introduces advanced data monitoring tools, including remote temperature monitoring and rapid pathogen detection systems, that enhance food safety and efficiency.This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in food safety, food quality, sustainability, and data-driven process improvements.00:17 Introduction and Guest Background01:44 Eric Moore’s Career Journey10:01 Sustainability in Food Safety20:52 Data Collection and Monitoring Systems34:28 Innovations in Food Manufacturing37:33 Conclusion and Contact InformationListen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqlRetGCxhI Links* Eric Moore – LinkedIn * Email: emoore@testo.comIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* Online course: “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification * Creative Safety Supply – Free 5S GuideHave you ordered the book, “Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba (Volume 2)?” The book is made up of 8 chapters written about experiences from Lean and Six Sigma practitioners, to give you tips and tricks to help you work with nonprofits in your area. All proceeds donated to charity. Now available in audiobook as of Feb 2024. You can also order Volume 1 released in 201...

    39 min

  2. FEB 19

    E123: Driving Lean Leadership into Government with Andrew Rowe

    In this episode, I share an interview I had with Andrew Rowe, former CEO and Executive Chairman of AllMed Healthcare Management in Portland, Oregon. After 20 years of leading AllMed through a Lean transformation, he is now focusing his time on bringing Lean and quality principes into the Portland metro area as a community service leader and advocate into government and nonprofits to tackle difficult challenges like homelessness.He reflects back on his early career in international business, where he adopted lean principles from demanding customers in various global industries while living outside the US. He details his successful turnaround of a Portland ship repair operation by using strategy, process, and people-focused improvements. He transitioned to AllMed, where he applied similar methods to a healthcare services company, incorporating technology for digital workflow optimization. He emphasizes the importance of leadership engagement, employee empowerment, and integrating lean into the operational playbook to achieve lasting transformation. We also cover practical strategies for implementing lean in government and creating a culture of continuous improvement that can sustain itself over time.Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc6VM13Gs4k Links* Andrew Rowe – LinkedIn * Email: arowe@purposeful-ventures.comIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* Online course: “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification * Creative Safety Supply – Free 5S GuideHave you ordered the book, “Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba (Volume 2)?” The book is made up of 8 chapters written about experiences from Lean and Six Sigma practitioners, to give you tips and tricks to help you work with nonprofits in your area. All proceeds donated to charity. Now available in audiobook as of Feb 2024. You can also order Volume 1 released in 2019.TranscriptBrion Hurley: Hi, everyone. We’ve got Andrew Rowe here.

    44 min

  3. JAN 16

    E122: Applying Lean at the City of Grand Rapids with Alen Ganic

    In this episode, I share an interview I had with Alen Ganic, an experienced Lean and Six Sigma coach who spent 14 years with the City of Grand Rapids implementing Lean and has also setup numerous volunteer groups and organizations to help those in need. He shares examples of project improvements he worked on in government to standardize toll booths, consolidate warehouses and buildings, and reduce setup time for maintenance and repair requests.We also had a good discussion about the recent policital discussions around DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and the best way to approach it from his experience.Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo1oMOfRNP0 Links* Alen Ganic – LinkedIn * Gemba Academy Podcast with Alen and Ron Pereira * City of Grand Rapids* City of Grand Rapids – Gemba Academy Live! * Video: Alen teaching Forestry Department maintenance crew * Videos: 1st Lean Government Forum in Michigan (2017)* Alex Melton – City of Grand Rapids * Alen Ganic – City of Grand Rapids * City of Detroit * Michigan Lean Consortium * Nonprofit: West Michigan Community ReliefIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* Online course: “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification

    44 min

  4. 12/23/2024

    E121: Using Lean Principles for Non-Profits and NGOs – ASQ Lean Division

    In this episode, I share a webinar I gave to the ASQ Lean Enterprise DivisionI share examples of how Lean tools like process mapping, 5S, and Kanban boards helped improve efficiency and effectiveness for nonprofit organizations focused on societal or environmental challenges. I also share my favorite real-world examples from the City of Denver, New York Food Bank, and my personal experience with Recycling Advocates, Free Geek and a few other nonprofits.I also discuss the role of Lean in addressing the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and share resources for organizations that are also promoting Lean for NGOs, or help connect volunteers with nonprofits looking for help.Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire presentation with slides below, or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH3_7E2me_Y Links* ASQ Lean Enterprise Division YouTube Channel * Lean and Sustainability Case Studies* City of Denver * NY Food Bank * AccraFab * Project C.U.R.E. * SBP USA * Lean Six Sigma for Good Book Series * Lean360 * Lean Agile NGOIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* FREE online course called “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification * Creative Safety Supply – Free 5S GuideHave you ordered the book, “Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba (Volume 2)?” The book is made up of 8 chapters written about experiences from Lean and Six Sigma practitioners, to give you tips and tricks to help you work with nonprofits in your area...

    24 min

  5. 12/16/2024

    E120: Tackling Green with Lean – Lean Global Connection 2024

    In this episode, I share a presentation that the Lean Sustainability Global Network (an unofficial team that I’m involved with) gave at the Lean Global Connection virtual conference in Nov 2024.We share how Lean principles can be applied to tackle pressing environmental challenges and improve processes.For example, Lean and Green expands the traditional definition of waste to include:* Energy: Unnecessary use and reliance on polluting sources. * Water: Unnecessary consumption and associated treatment costs. * Materials: Losses due to cradle-to-grave design instead of a circular economy approach. * Garbage: Costs of disposal and environmental impact. * Transportation: Unnecessary movement and fossil fuel reliance. * Emissions: Pollution and potential fines. * Biodiversity: Direct destruction and overexploitation of resources.This can be accomplished by integrating Green into existing Lean Practices:* Workshops and Training: Educate employees on Lean and Green principles and conduct problem-solving workshops focused on sustainability. * Applying a Green Lens to Existing Tools: Analyze processes like spaghetti diagrams and value stream mapping with a focus on environmental impact factors like carbon emissions, energy usage, and waste generation. * Gemba Walks with a Green Focus: Conduct “energy treasure hunts” to identify energy-saving opportunities and engage employees in finding sustainable solutions. * What is exciting is that implementing Lean and Green initiatives often leads to reduced energy consumption, waste reduction, and improved efficiency, translating into tangible cost savings. It also directly correlates process improvements with reduced carbon emissions, which is good for the planet, but also can attract environmentally conscious customers and investors.At the end, we conclude with a call to action for those interested in joining an upcoming webinar related to the quiz results: building a business case for sustainability and integrating green into value stream mapping.Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire presentation with slides below, or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ozlLpv_xg4 Links* Presenters* Marcelo Pinto Dabike * Bruno Battaglia * John Hamalian * Brion Hurley * Alister Lee * Lean Sustainability Global Network * Lean Global Connection (LGN) 2024* All presentations from LGN 2024 * Lean Global NetworkIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate...

    25 min

  6. 11/27/2024

    E119: Applying Lean within Municipal Electric and Water Utilities – Interview with Jennifer Peterson

    In this episode, we interview Jennifer Peterson, the manager of Continuous Improvement at Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) in Muscatine, Iowa. She discusses how she got into continuous improvement (CI) and the impact it has had on MPW employees and customers.She highlights the importance of:* Creating a culture of continuous improvement: encourages employees to identify areas for improvement and provides them with the resources and support to make changes * Using data to drive decision-making: using metrics to track progress and identify areas where further improvement is needed * Engaging employees at all levels: involving employees in CI events and empowers them to make changes * Learning from others: MPW is a member of the Iowa Lean Consortium and has learned from other organizations, including Mary Greeley Medical CenterJennifer also shares several examples of successful CI projects at MPW, including:* Improving the travel process: MPW implemented a new software application that streamlined the travel booking process and reduced frustration for employees. * Eliminating a cumbersome process: MPW identified a process that was no longer needed and eliminated it, saving time and resources. * 5S-ing a maintenance shop: MPW improved the organization and ergonomics of a maintenance shop, making it a better place to work.She also shares some examples of apply Lean at home for conducting youth softball tryouts, and how she has helped continuously improve it year over year. She also was excited when her husband wanted help organizing his garage after many years.Jennifer’s insights provide valuable lessons for any organization looking to implement or improve its CI program, especially if you work within a government or quasi-government agency like a utility company.Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the video below, or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq7FPM9nMYI Links* Jennifer Peterson – LinkedIn * Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) * Iowa Lean Consortium * Malcolm Baldrige AwardIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* FREE online course called “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certi...

    49 min

  7. 10/30/2024

    E118: Supply Chains for Good – Interview with C.J. Nord

    In this episode, we interview C.J. Nord, a passionate supply chain manager and consultant, who shares her journey towards driving societal change through supply chain. As the founder of Supply Chains for Good, C.J. discusses her extensive career in supply chain management, her recovery from cancer, and how that inspired her skills to launch impactful projects like eliminating ethnic shooting targets and the “There’s Cash in that Trash” initiative. She also delves deep into her legislative efforts to ban ethnic shooting targets used in training within the GSA, highlighting her collaboration on California Senate Bill 1020. This episode is a must-watch for those interested in leveraging supply chain methodologies to drive systemic and sustainable change for society! * 00:24 Her Journey in Supply Chain Management * 00:55 The Power of Supply Chain in Driving Change * 03:36 Challenges and Rewards in Supply Chain * 09:47 Process Improvement and Supplier Development * 18:25 Ethical Dilemmas in Supply Chain * 19:49 The Fight Against Racially Biased Training Targets * 34:04 Understanding Legislative Processes * 35:03 Community Safety and Budget Challenges * 41:28 The Power of Advocacy * 44:21 Addressing Racial Bias in Law Enforcement * 50:38 Introducing “There’s Cash in that Trash” * 52:10 Circular Economy and Sustainable Solutions * 01:05:02 Conclusion and Call to Action Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the video below, or go to https://youtu.be/wNik8_LR90s Links* C.J. Nord – LinkedIn * Supply Chains for GoodIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* FREE online course called “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification * Creative Safety Supply – Free 5S GuideHave you ordered the book, “Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba (Volume 2)?” The book is made up of 8 chapters written about experiences from Lean and Six Sigma practitioners, to give you tips and tricks to help you work with n...

    1h 7m

  8. 10/24/2024

    E117: Transforming Healthcare with Lean Six Sigma – Interview with Sarah Cook

    In this episode, I interviewed Sarah Cook, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt consultant from Pepper Foster Consulting in Portland, Oregon. She shares her journey from the VA medical center to becoming a performance engineer in healthcare. She discusses the application of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to healthcare, the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems, and the critical importance of data-driven decision-making. We also discussed practical strategies for process improvement in healthcare, building trust, and mitigating risks effectively. Learn about a project she worked on reducing surgical infection rates, implementing daily tiered huddles, and the significance of psychological safety in fostering a good improvement culture. We also talked about valuable insights on monitoring data fluctuations, creating effective visual charts, and using control charts to monitor processes. This episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to drive sustainable improvements in healthcare.* 00:20 Journey into Lean and Process Improvement * 02:16 Impact of COVID on Healthcare Processes * 05:19 Lean vs. Six Sigma in Quality Improvement * 07:42 Challenges and Successes in Process Improvement * 15:39 Building Trust and Managing Change * 21:56 Building Trust in Conversations * 22:36 Mistakes in the Clinical Laboratory * 23:32 Addressing Shame and Fear in Healthcare * 26:36 Proactive Risk Mitigation * 32:33 The Importance of Small Improvements * 36:31 Reacting to Data Fluctuations * 38:49 Visualizing Process Improvements * 39:48 Conclusion and Contact InformationListen to the podcast on this page, or watch the video below, or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya6gXyUcads Links* Sarah Cook – LinkedIn* Email: sarah.cook@pepperfoster.com * Pepper Foster * Measures of Success by Mark GrabanIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* FREE online course called “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification * Creative Safety Supply – Free 5S GuideHave you ordered the book, “a href="https://amzn.

    41 min
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    About

    A business podcast dedicated to teaching and sharing how the popular business improvement methodologies of Lean and Six Sigma can be applied to environmental impacts (water, air emissions, solid waste, trash, rubbish, hazardous waste, toxins, and energy) and societal issues (homelessness, government agencies, education, healthcare, gender equality, poverty, etc). These techniques and principles can help businesses, nonprofit organizations, NGO's, not-for-profit organizations and local communities save money, engage employees and residents, and become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at LeanSixSigmaForGood.com Keywords: Lean, Six Sigma, Environment, Sustainability, Green, Energy Reduction, Energy Conservation, Carbon Footprint, Triple Bottom Line, Eco-friendly, Environmental Sustainability, Water Conservation, Lean Six Sigma, Business Improvement, Process Efficiency, Zero Waste, Waste Reduction, Efficiency, Poverty, Donations, Homelessness, Healthcare

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