Uncommon Sense - Tools to Improve your Work Forever

Process Management International (PMI)
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PMI’s podcast, Uncommon Sense – Tools to Improve your Work Forever, gives you the opportunity to listen to our expert Consultants talk about a wide variety of tools so that you can refresh your memory and gather inspiration for which tools might help you solve your latest improvement challenge or problem. Each podcast is a rapid 10 – 15 minute download of what the tool is, when you would use it, and tips for effective application to enable you to decide quickly whether this tool is the one you need, avoiding hours of searching through manuals, books or online platforms for those nuggets of inspiration. Find out more about Tools for Business Excellence and how to transform your organisation at pmi.co.uk

  1. Implement, Standardise, Review

    2D AGO

    Implement, Standardise, Review

    You’ve delivered the project. The results are in. But six months later… the old ways of working have crept back in. So how do you stop progress from slipping away?  Join PMI Senior Consultant Damion Albinson as he shares how to close the Improvement Cycle with confidence, turning delivery into lasting impact. Learn how thoughtful implementation, genuine stakeholder engagement, and building team capability can help change take root and grow. If sustaining improvement feels like the toughest part, this episode will show how to make success stick and build momentum for what comes next. More resources: Step change improvement using the PMI Improvement Cycle5 Challenges of Embedding Control Charts in Daily Process ManagementKey Steps to Successful Project Planning PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    18 min
  2. Is/Is Not: The Overlooked Problem Solving Tool

    OCT 1

    Is/Is Not: The Overlooked Problem Solving Tool

    What exactly is the problem? And what isn’t? It sounds simple, but getting clarity here can be the difference between chasing assumptions and finding the real root cause.  Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson in the studio with Susannah Clarke as they discuss Is/Is Not, a beautifully simple tool often underused in problem solving. With a practical example involving soggy pizzas, Stuart shows how moving beyond scoping questions can generate powerful clues, test theories, and steer you toward evidence-based solutions.  More resources: The Joy of ProblemsTransform You Problem Solving Mindset 8D Problem Solving Template PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    15 min
  3. Roles in Agile and Lean Six Sigma

    SEP 3

    Roles in Agile and Lean Six Sigma

    Different approaches, same goal: better performance. That’s why Agile and Lean Six Sigma work together; aligning people, roles, and responsibilities to get the best out of every team. Join Anthony Richardson in conversation with Susannah Clarke as they reveal how Lean Six Sigma roles like Green Belts, Black Belts, and Sponsors align with Agile roles such as Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers. Learn when and how these roles intersect, why it matters for delivering improvements, and how clear role alignment can make your projects faster, smarter, and more effective. More resources: Agile Improvement Explained  Agile Meets Lean Six Sigma: A Case Study Setting Up for Agile Success PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    13 min
  4. FMEA Beyond Manufacturing

    AUG 20

    FMEA Beyond Manufacturing

    It’s a classic tool.  But its reach is far wider than you might think. Join PMI Consultant Des Kelly as he explains what Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) really is, how the 2019 global standard changed the game, and why Process FMEA now belongs in hospitals, call centres, control rooms and corporate functions as much as on the shop floor. If you run, design, or depend on any process (yes, that means you!), you’ll see how FMEA can strengthen performance where it matters most, and start questioning why you ever left risk management to chance. More resources: Getting to Grips with FMEAImprovement Toolbox – Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA)Elevate Your Skills: Black Belt Tools for Success PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    19 min
  5. Lean Is Not About Efficiency, It’s About Abnormality at a Glance

    AUG 6

    Lean Is Not About Efficiency, It’s About Abnormality at a Glance

    It’s a bold claim, but one worth exploring. Join PMI Consultant Niall Coney as he challenges one of the most persistent misconceptions in improvement: that Lean is about efficiency. Through real-world examples and a return to the purpose behind Lean tools, Niall reframes Lean as a way to see abnormality at a glance.  Not as a shortcut to efficiency, but as a foundation for problem solving. From 5S to standardised work, Andon to process confirmation, he explores how these tools expose problems rather than fix them, creating the conditions for better thinking, better habits, and better results. If Lean feels like it’s missing the mark in your organisation, this conversation might just change the way you see it. More resources: Taking Out Waste May Not Make You Lean Lean tools enable change Applying Lean in Service PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    16 min
  6. AI for Smarter Problem Solving

    JUL 23

    AI for Smarter Problem Solving

    AI is reshaping problem solving. But can it follow the methods you trust?  Join PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh as he shares an improvement-in-action story where conventional thinking reached its limit, and a custom AI agent opened new possibilities.  He explains the difference between generic AI tools and tailored agents, how prompt engineering is shaping the future of work, and why this isn’t about replacing expertise, but amplifying it.  If you’ve ever wondered how AI could support improvement, this episode will show you what’s possible.  More resources: Revolutionise Your Process Excellence Using AI AgentsWhen Is 8D the Right Problem-Solving Approach?Leading Transformation in the Age of AI  PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    14 min
  7. When Is 8D the Right Problem-Solving Approach?

    JUL 9

    When Is 8D the Right Problem-Solving Approach?

    8D has a reputation for being thorough, rigorous, and methodical. But is it always the best choice?  Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson as he takes us though three digestible scenarios to highlight the difference between everyday fixes, improvement work, and when 8D is exactly the right tool. Cutting through the confusion, he unpacks the method step-by-step and explains how to use it with discipline, not by default.  If you’ve ever asked, “Should we just fix it or dig deeper?” this episode will help you decide.  More resources: The Joy of ProblemsTransform You Problem Solving Mindset8D Problem Solving Template PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    16 min
  8. Correlations: Unravelling Relationships

    JUN 25

    Correlations: Unravelling Relationships

    “If I change this… what happens over there?” It’s a familiar question in improvement, and one that correlation helps us explore with rigour and insight. Join PMI Consultant Niall Coney as he breaks down the concept of correlation and its role in uncovering meaningful relationships. Using practical examples, from machine settings to wellbeing initiatives, he explains how correlation and regression support evidence-based decisions, help avoid blind spots and focus improvement where it matters.  But it’s not all good news.  Niall also highlights essential cautions, including the limits of correlation, why causation can’t be assumed, and when covariance offers a sharper lens on variation. Ready to move beyond surface observations and understand what’s really driving performance? This is essential listening. More resources: Simplifying Sampling StrategiesFrom Green Belt Practitioner to Black Belt Specialist: Making an Impact Black Belt Tools for Success: On-Demand Webinar PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD. The Goals to Results Conference is back! 17th March 2026. Get your ticket here. More from PMI: Dive into our Knowledge Hub for more tools, videos, and infographics Join us for a PMI LIVE Webinar Follow us on LinkedIn Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. Explore On Demand >> Explore Distance Learning >>

    12 min
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About

PMI’s podcast, Uncommon Sense – Tools to Improve your Work Forever, gives you the opportunity to listen to our expert Consultants talk about a wide variety of tools so that you can refresh your memory and gather inspiration for which tools might help you solve your latest improvement challenge or problem. Each podcast is a rapid 10 – 15 minute download of what the tool is, when you would use it, and tips for effective application to enable you to decide quickly whether this tool is the one you need, avoiding hours of searching through manuals, books or online platforms for those nuggets of inspiration. Find out more about Tools for Business Excellence and how to transform your organisation at pmi.co.uk

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