WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute's Podcast Lean Enterprise Institute

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Alan Goodman, professor and department chair of quality engineering at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Alan spent his career in operations at GE before becoming a professor. The podcast explores his recent work to teach young students lean skills to prepare them for careers after school.
In the discussion, we explore: 
Alan's background in lean and how he's transferring his skills to students through a program he's grown from a one-week online course to a year-round initiative. 
Getting students interested in lean concepts through interactive games and how to apply these lessons to adult learning.
Alan's vision to partner with companies to create a pipeline for students to enter the workforce from school.
Methods Alan incorporates new technologies like AI and gamification into his teaching methods to foster creativity and critical thinking. 
 
If you'd like to support Alan's work, check out https://cityonahillmke.org. 

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Ben Armstrong, Executive Director of MIT's Industrial Performance Center, and Jim Morgan, Senior Advisor at the Lean Enterprise Institute. They share perspectives from Ben's extensive research on the history and future of US manufacturing and Jim's first-hand knowledge of developing new products and production processes. 
 
In our discussion, we explore:
The rise and decline of America's manufacturing expertise and how the decoupling of design and production has impacted innovation.
Challenges currently facing small and medium manufacturers, and what investments they should consider.
The role of industrial policy and government support in spurring new growth in US manufacturing.
Emerging technologies like AI and how they could transform manufacturing operations going forward.
This podcast was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI’s newsletter devoted to improving organizations’ innovation capability. It is the second of four in a series on process development entitled “Making Things Well.” 
 
Subscribe to the Design Brief newsletter by clicking here.

Electrification has given rise to new American automotive ventures such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid Motors. Aside from the powertrain, these companies are innovating the driving experience through breakthrough performance and by deeply integrating software into vehicle architecture.  
These disruptions demonstrate exciting possibilities but raise a challenge: how can companies innovate while upholding customer expectations of quality? 
In an episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI sat down with industry veteran and Lucid Motors’ Vice President of Quality Jeri Ford to explore that question. Jeri has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, having held leadership roles at Ford and Rivian before joining Lucid. 
The conversation explores: 
How product development impacts quality downstream in manufacturing and supply chain. 
The importance of collaboration between functions to achieve quality objectives. 
Balancing speed and quality in bringing new vehicles to market. 
Adapting processes for the integration of software and hardware in modern vehicles. 
Building alignment and a culture of quality in a startup environment. 
Listen to gain these insights and learn about the challenges facing the automotive industry in an era of technological change.
 
Be among the first to get the latest insights from LEI’s Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD) thought leaders and practitioners. This article was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI’s newsletter devoted to improving organizations’ innovation capability. It is the fourth of five in a series on quality entitled “Whatever Happened to Quality First? Rethinking Product Development the Wake of Recalls and Catastrophic Failures.” Click to read the first, second, and third articles.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Emily Swaney and Alli Kulp from OhioHealth. Emily is the senior director of OhioHealth's lean promotion office, leading the organization's continuous improvement team. Alli is a senior advisor in the lean promotion office and previously worked as a registered nurse.
In our discussion, we explore: 
The lean journey at OhioHealth since 2006 and their goal of creating a culture of 35,000 problem solvers. 
OhioHealth's strategic goal deployment process and how they cascade goals throughout such a large healthcare system. 
How lean daily management and problem solving are implemented at the frontlines through huddles and visual boards. 
Tools OhioHealth has developed to assess lean leadership behaviors and the management system to drive progress. 
Emily and Alli will lead a learning session on creating leadership assessment tools to foster development at the Lean Summit on March 19-20 in Carlsbad, CA. 

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Dennis Wade from Oakland University and Lisa Eshbach, PhD from Ferris State University. They share their universities' programs that provide hands-on lean learning experiences for students through collaboration with industry partners. 
In our discussion, we explore: 
The backgrounds and roles of Dennis Wade and Lisa Eshbach in academia and their work connecting students to real-world lean projects. 
The models used at Ferris State University and Oakland University for experiential learning projects, including course-based projects and paid internships. 
The impact of these programs on students' development of lean skills and tools, as well as skills like collaboration and problem-solving. 
Examples of projects undertaken by students, such as a kanban system for an eye clinic supply room and creating a food pickup process for a university food pantry. 
Dennis and Lisa will lead a learning session on connecting industry to academia at the Lean Summit on March 19-20 in Carlsbad, CA.
To contribute to the James P. Womack Scholarship, which funds student internships at Oakland University, email us at info@lean.org. Click here to read case studies from past student projects funded by the scholarship.

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, our guests are Jennifer Trask and Brittney Heatherington from MillerKnoll. Trask is the Director of the MillerKnoll Performance System (HMPS) for business processes and dealer network, while Heatherington is a continuous improvement coach for the dealer network. 
In our discussion, we explore: 
MillerKnoll’s methodical approach to people development. 
How MillerKnoll has built a culture of operational excellence throughout its value stream from its factories to its dealers. 
How MillerKnoll successfully engages dealers in problem-solving by coaching at the gemba.
The importance of approaching problems situationally versus applying a fixed solution.