The Process Fixer, with Derrick Mains

Derrick Mains
The Process Fixer, with Derrick Mains

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning content creator, four-time author, and optimization consultant renowned for his pioneering work in process engineering, optimization, and transformation, Derrick Mains' work spans over 20 years and includes experience with more than 150 companies across nearly every industry, from early-stage companies to the Fortune 10. Mains' approach blends essentialism with a keen focus on human-centric system design, emphasizing the need for regular audits, reflection, and reinvestment to achieve optimal results. The show shares his methods and approach to optimizing your company and generating more profits.

  1. Build Your Boat - The Kaiser Way

    2 DAYS AGO

    Build Your Boat - The Kaiser Way

    This episode offers an in-depth update on Derrick Mains’ recent journey and the evolution of The Process Fixer. After nearly five months away from podcasting, Derrick returns to share the incredible growth and response to his speaking engagements, which have now surpassed 100 events scheduled by the end of the year. His message has gained significant traction, with numerous appearances on leadership and operations podcasts where he explores the principles of operational excellence. A key highlight of Derrick’s recent work is the launch of a new, comprehensive website, TheProcessFixer.com. This platform introduces his proprietary M4 methodology: Map, Measure, Manage, and Mobilize. The initiative aims to certify individuals as process fixers, building upon existing process triage training. This program focuses on addressing structural and systemic challenges within organizations while fostering a systems-thinking mindset—essential for operational success. Central to Derrick’s discussions is the impact of events, behaviors, and structure on organizational performance. He emphasizes that while managing events and behaviors is necessary, it often distracts from addressing the root cause of inefficiencies: the design and structure of the system itself. Drawing on insights from thought leaders like Deming, Derrick highlights that 94% of performance issues stem from structural inefficiencies, with only 6% attributable to individual shortcomings. Derrick also shares insights into the innovative management practices of Henry Kaiser during World War II. Kaiser’s human-centric approach to shipbuilding illustrates how prioritizing structural design and addressing worker needs led to unprecedented results, such as constructing ships in days instead of months. This example underscores the transformative potential of optimizing systems over focusing solely on behaviors or events. Looking ahead, Derrick is planning a series of training workshops and discovery days, offering businesses opportunities to engage with his systemic improvement strategies. He is particularly excited about his upcoming book, The System, which will encapsulate his ideologies and practical strategies for driving systemic change. For those interested in delving deeper into Derrick’s methodologies, his new Substack community provides ongoing content, including exclusive webinars and discussions. Whether certified members or new to the Process Fixer community, participants will find valuable resources for their growth.

    35 min
  2. Finding the Right Fit - Recruiting in the AI Age ft. Max Hansen

    JUN 20

    Finding the Right Fit - Recruiting in the AI Age ft. Max Hansen

    On this episode of The Process Fixer Podcast, we're joined by Max Hansen from Y Scouts. They specialize in streamlining and fixing the recruiting process, using new understandings of psychology and the hiring process, to prevent candidates from 'gamifying' the recruitment experience. Derrick and Max's conversation ranges from employee retention, to the value of shoulder-to-shoulder interactions, bringing new perspectives to the way we view the employee-employer relationship. Don't miss this episode of The Process Fixer Podcast!  Show Notes: 0:00 - 3:35 - Introduction to Max Hansen and Y Scouts 3:35 - 10:18 - Knowing a Candidate 10:18 - 17:23 - Being Shoulder to Shoulder 17:23 - 26:26 - The Process Triage Experience 26:26 - 36:50 - Improving the Process Through AI 36:50 - 46:31 - Perspective Seekers and Believables 46:31 - 49:13 - Investing in Your Frontline Employees 49:13 - 51:20 - Outro

    51 min
  3. Understanding and Managing Friction

    JUN 13

    Understanding and Managing Friction

    Today's discussion centered on the concept of friction within businesses and its negative impact on energy efficiency and productivity. By visualizing the process through inputs, outputs, and outcomes, we highlighted the importance of identifying and reducing friction points between departments. Friction often arises due to misaligned incentives, lack of understanding of the 'why,' and informal handoffs between systems. We emphasized the significance of formalizing processes and establishing clear handoff procedures to enhance communication and trust between departments. By incentivizing based on quality outcomes rather than just outputs, organizations can improve overall efficiency and customer satisfaction. Encouraging departments to understand and align with the organization's overarching goals can foster a culture of high-quality output and continuous improvement. Moreover, we discussed the prevalence of inefficiencies caused by lack of trust in processes, leading to extensive rework and additional costs. Formally specifying handoff requirements and encouraging accountability through documentation and inspection can significantly reduce errors and enhance overall quality. Embracing a system of systems approach and treating departments as a community of companies can facilitate a holistic view of business operations and drive collaborative improvements. Ultimately, by adopting a structured and systematic approach to process improvement, businesses can mitigate internal competition, increase trust and transparency, and drive higher quality outcomes for both employees and customers. Addressing friction points through clearer communication, defined processes, and a shared understanding of objectives can pave the way for enhanced efficiency, profitability, and long-term success in the competitive business landscape.

    31 min
  4. Process Triage and Believables

    JUN 6

    Process Triage and Believables

    In this episode, Rosie Rosenberger, the founder of Process Triage, and Derrick discuss how Rosie's approach to process improvement differs from traditional methods like Six Sigma. Rosie explains how her methodology, called triage, focuses on building teams, enhancing situational awareness, and addressing pain points effectively. They delve into the importance of engaging frontline employees and "believables" in the process improvement journey, highlighting the power of collaboration and hands-on problem-solving. The conversation delves into the emotional aspect of process improvement, with Rosie sharing how triaging sessions can evoke strong emotions in participants, especially when long-standing issues are finally addressed. They discuss the significance of setting clear process capability goals to guide improvement efforts and ensure alignment with organizational objectives. Rosie emphasizes the impact of triage in fostering team communication, problem-solving, and decision-making, ultimately leading to tangible results and positive outcomes for companies. The hosts draw upon examples from their experiences to illustrate how triage can transform organizational processes and enhance performance. They touch on the role of executive sponsorship, the value of engaging frontline employees in process improvement, and the importance of fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The episode concludes with a discussion about the movie "Flaming Hot" and its relevance to the concept of empowering frontline employees to drive innovative solutions within organizations. Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits of utilizing Rosie's triage methodology in process improvement initiatives, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, communication, and goal alignment in driving organizational success.

    42 min
  5. W. Edwards Deming

    MAY 30

    W. Edwards Deming

    This week, Derrick discusses the historical context of World War II and its impact on American manufacturing and leadership. He highlights the critical role played by W. Edwards Deming in streamlining American manufacturing during the war effort. Deming emphasized statistical control and employee empowerment as key drivers of success. The speaker discusses the unique circumstances during the war, where executives had to work closely with frontline workers due to the absence of middle managers, leading to a more collaborative and efficient system. Explores how the integration of statistical control and employee empowerment led to significant advancements in American manufacturing during the war. Contrast Deming's approach with the command-and-control style of management advocated by figures like Jack Welch. Derrick emphasizes the importance of focusing on systems and processes, as highlighted by Deming, who attributed 94% of business problems to system failures rather than individual errors. Derrick introduces a methodology called WINS360, which focuses on process mapping, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement within organizations. They stress the need for businesses to prioritize system design and optimization, as well as employee involvement in problem-solving and decision-making. By addressing inefficiencies and bottlenecks in processes, companies can enhance productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction. 00:07 - Introduction 4:14 - The Importance of Rest 8:46 - The Impact of Parkinson's Law 10:10 - Building from the Ground Up 21:04 - The DuPont Method 30:49 - Finding the Book and More Resources 33:31 - Conclusion #AlysonCaffrey #TheSabbaticalMethod #podcast #DerrickMains #Rest #entrepreneur #systems #productivity #leadershipDetachment #rejuvenation #learning

    31 min
  6. The Sabbatical Method ft. Alyson Caffrey

    MAY 9

    The Sabbatical Method ft. Alyson Caffrey

    Alyson Caffrey is a guest on The Process Fixer podcast, discussing her book, The Sabbatical Method. They dive into the importance of rest for entrepreneurs and the concept of creating systems to protect time for rest and focus on high-quality work. Alyson shares her personal experience of dedicating focused time each morning to write her book, resulting in increased productivity and clarity. The conversation explores the impact of proper rest on work quality and decision-making, referencing historical studies on work hours and productivity. Both Alyson and Derrek emphasize the significance of building systems within businesses to allow for leadership detachment and sustainable growth. The episode concludes with a friendly exchange where Alyson invites listeners to disconnect and read the book for a weekend of rejuvenation and learning. 00:07 - Introduction 4:14 - The Importance of Rest 8:46 - The Impact of Parkinson's Law 10:10 - Building from the Ground Up 21:04 - The DuPont Method 30:49 - Finding the Book and More Resources 33:31 - Conclusion #AlysonCaffrey #TheSabbaticalMethod #podcast #DerrickMains #Rest #entrepreneur #systems #productivity #leadershipDetachment #rejuvenation #learningsuccess.

    34 min
  7. Exploring Cultural Psychology ft. Martin Karaffa

    APR 11

    Exploring Cultural Psychology ft. Martin Karaffa

    This week on The Process Fixer Podcast, Derrick speaks to Martin Karaffa, an expert in decoding culture inside organizations. Martin explains the fascinating ways in which people are influenced by the country or generation they are born into, and how leaders can adapt to a new generation joining the workforce. Hear all this and more, on The Process Fixer Podcast! Show Notes - 0:00 to 3:33 - Introduction to Martin 3:33 to 7:42 - Why 'Decode' Culture? 7:42 to 19:34 - National identity and its influence on people 19:34 to 1:12:00 - Martin's Presentation 1:12:00 to 1:20:27 - Dealing with cultural differences as a leader 1:20:27 to 1:23:21 - Outro

    1h 24m
  8. Finding a Better Solution: Thou Shalt Not Steal!

    MAR 21

    Finding a Better Solution: Thou Shalt Not Steal!

    In this episode of Quick Thoughts on The Process Fixer Podcast, Derrick tells a story from his dad's career, and how oftentimes different perspectives can lead to clever solutions for business level problems. This week, Derrick explains the unorthodox story of how a pastor, and plastic milk crates, intersected to send kids to hell!

    9 min
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5
out of 5
254 Ratings

About

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning content creator, four-time author, and optimization consultant renowned for his pioneering work in process engineering, optimization, and transformation, Derrick Mains' work spans over 20 years and includes experience with more than 150 companies across nearly every industry, from early-stage companies to the Fortune 10. Mains' approach blends essentialism with a keen focus on human-centric system design, emphasizing the need for regular audits, reflection, and reinvestment to achieve optimal results. The show shares his methods and approach to optimizing your company and generating more profits.

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