Started in 2006, the ”Lean Blog Interviews” podcast, hosted by Mark Graban, brings you conversations with leading experts, authors, and thought leaders in lean manufacturing and management. As a Lean practitioner, consultant, and author, Mark Graban offers deep insights, real-world experiences, and practical tips for implementing and enhancing Lean practices across various industries. The Podcast Experience Mark Graban engages his guests in a conversational format, covering a wide array of t ...
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Lean Smarts Podcast: Lean Manufacturing | Leadership
Lean Smarts Podcast: Lean Manufacturing | Leadership
Daniel Crawford, founder of Lean Smarts, shares about all things related to lean manufacturing at work, home, and in life. If you want to understand lean, become a lean thinker, and take your leadership to the next level, this is the show for you!
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Two successful entrepreneurs talk about manufacturing, lean principles, and the freedom they are pursuing in life and business.
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Surviving the Install: The High-Stakes World of CNC Machine Setup | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E85
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43:52Installing a new CNC machine isn’t for the faint of heart, and in this episode, we dive into the process of rigging and setting up the Matsuura MX420 PC10. From nerve-wracking moments with teetering machine parts to the surprising role color plays in a shop environment, Andrew and Jay share firsthand experiences from the world of machining. Plus, w…
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Innovating Patient Safety: Mike Eisenberg Discusses Healthcare Technology and Trust
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48:26My guest for Episode #523 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Mike Eisenberg. He's been a filmmaker since 2010 with his production company, Tall Tale Productions, after completing his B.A. in Journalism at Marietta College in Ohio. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Mike’s father, Dr. John Eisenberg, was a leader in national patient s…
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The Decision-Making Hack That Frees Up Time | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E84
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50:24Jay and Andrew unpack the concept of “Ask for No, Don’t Ask for Yes,” a strategy that flips traditional decision-making on its head. Inspired by this article from Dan Moore, they discuss how shifting from seeking approval to assuming action can streamline workflows, eliminate bottlenecks, and empower teams to make decisions with confidence. They al…
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Smart Failure vs. Dumb Failure | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E83
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48:33In this episode, we dive deep into the value of failure—yes, failure—as a crucial tool for growth and success. Jay and Andrew discuss the difference between smart failure vs. dumb failure, how to create core values that actually shape company culture, and why embracing mistakes (the right way) leads to continuous improvement. They even have a frien…
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The Art of Hiring: Finding the Right Fit Without Micromanaging | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E82
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46:30What’s harder—your first hire or your tenth? In this episode, Jay and Andrew discuss the growing pains of hiring, when to trust your gut, and how to build a hiring process that works. They break down lean manufacturing principles, why “busy” doesn’t mean productive, and how reducing waste can create a healthier, more profitable business.…
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Bridging the Communication Gap in Lean: What We Can Learn from Journalism with Jacquie Maupin
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44:30Episode page with video, transcript, and more My guest for Episode #522 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jacquie Maupin. She joins the podcast to discuss her upcoming workshop at the Healthcare Systems Process Improvement Conference (HSPI) hosted by the Society for Health Systems. She and her co-presenter, Lauren Todd from HCA Healthcare, wil…
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No Questions? No Job! Why Incurious People Are Bad Employees | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E81
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57:09In this episode, Jay shares key takeaways from his visit to Gimbal Automation, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at innovation in action. We break down why job candidates who don’t ask questions can be a major red flag, and we dive into the pitfalls of the pre-order trap—why taking money before your product is truly ready can backfire. Plus, Andre…
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Hack Your Business With Automation, Routine, & Memory | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E80
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45:28In this episode, Jay and Andrew geek out on the power of routine, why structured days fuel creativity, and how memory palaces can turn you into a mental wizard. Plus, Jay shares a hilarious (and frustrating) story about a packaging company that somehow managed to ship his product back looking like it survived a battle. And Andrew explains why autom…
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SHOT Show 2025 Debrief | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E79
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19:06In this solo debrief, Andrew talks about his experiences at SHOT Show 2025, sharing reflections on industry trends, the rising costs of Vegas, trade show logistics, connecting with industry peers, the value of focused networking, and more.Oleh Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Loathing Las Vegas (Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Trade Show) | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E78
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50:07Andrew is headed to the SHOT Show, so he and Jay dive into the ins and outs of trade show culture, including the fascinating interplay between established giants and ambitious startups. Later they discuss balancing standardization with customization, and when it’s worth going the DIY route versus opting for factory solutions. Plus, hear their takes…
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Buy The Machine, Buy The Culture | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E77
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56:44Andrew and Jay kick off 2025 with a wide-ranging conversation about everything from the history of urban neighborhoods and local governance, navigating customer expectations, managing inventory, and handling unexpected crises like power outages. We also dive into the importance of aligning with vendors, and the intricacies of new machine installati…
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Shop Insights with John Saunders| Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E76
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33:53Andrew sits down with John Saunders of Saunders Machine Works for a candid discussion about their John's visit to Andrew's shop, lessons in lean manufacturing, and the challenges of running a small business.Oleh Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Lessons from 2024 and Exciting Ventures for 2025 | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E75
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40:53As 2024 wraps up, Andrew and Jay reflect on the year. They discuss lessons learned in 2024, and how they're preparing for industry shifts in 2025. Plus Jay reveals an exciting new diversification venture in the tiny home industry, Piccola Tiny Homes, and how lean principles are transforming this space.…
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The 5-Step Innovation Process | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E74
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26:18Jay goes solo, discussing the challenges and triumphs of launching Pierson's latest product, walking listeners through the “Musk Algorithm”—a five-step framework for process creation and optimization: 1. Question assumptions and requirements. 2. Delete unnecessary components. 3. Optimize processes. 4. Accelerate production. 5. Automate intelligentl…
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Gemba Claus is Comin’ to Town! [Song]
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1:11Here's a musical holiday treat for my regular Lean Blog readers and podcast listeners, a song parody, originally released in 2009... remastered a bit in 2022. https://www.leanblog.org/2022/12/gemba-claus-comin-town-song/ Gemba Claus is Comin' to Town Lyrics by Mark Graban Performance by Steve Sholtes Oh, you'd better watch out You'd better kaizen Y…
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5-Axis CNC Showdown: The Machine That Won the Day| Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E73
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44:28The big reveal: Andrew finally shares which 5-axis CNC machine he chose and why it outshone other strong contenders (you’ll have to tune in to find out which one made the cut). Along the way, we dive deep into the decision-making process for major shop investments, offering valuable insights for anyone facing similar choices.…
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Bonus: Preview of Mark Graban's AME Australia "Road Show" in 2025; Improving the Way We Improve
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37:03Welcome to this bonus session of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast, originally recorded as a LinkedIn Live event! In this conversation, I partnered with Rebecca Michalik from AME Australia to discuss my upcoming workshops in Australia and New Zealand in March 2025. Episode page with video, transcript, and more We’ll dive into key themes like psychol…
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Craftsmanship, Innovation, and Lean: From Electric Bass Design to Everyday Efficiency | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E72
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1:07:05How about something a little different? Andrew and Jay take a detour through the world of craftsmanship, innovation, and efficiency by way of music. They discuss the evolution of electric bass designs, the nuances of machining and guitar manufacturing, and how lean principles can be applied not only to manufacturing processes but also to everyday l…
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Daily Management, Strategy Execution, and Lean Leadership with José Ferro
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57:04My guest for Episode #521 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is José R. Ferro, PhD, a Senior Advisor with the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Founder and President, Lean Institute Brasil. Episode page with video, transcript, and more By founding Lean Institute Brasil in 1999 to disseminate the principles and practices of lean thinking to Brazili…
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Sales That Don't Cheapen Your Brand | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E71
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49:38This week, we dive into the madness of Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and the whole crazy sales season. Ever wondered if discounts are really worth it? We’re talking about the psychology of sales—why free stuff beats discounts, how to build customer loyalty (shoutout to Gary Vee and John Taffer), and why one of us is over Black Friday sales. We also s…
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Should You Bet On Yourself Or Somebody Else? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E70
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50:53Both Jay and Andrew have made some big purchases lately, including Andrew's final decision on a 5-axis machine. In this episode, they share candid stories about navigating those choices. Just what kind of thought do you put into a six-figure decision? Do you trust your gut, do you rationalize, or what? Oh, and they also discuss battling gophers (ye…
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Transforming Operations with Lean Leadership: Bill Remy, CEO of TBM Consulting, on Driving Growth Through Continuous Improvement
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56:01My guest for Episode #520 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bill Remy, CEO of TBM Consulting. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Bill is both an accomplished business executive and leader who is frequently called upon for his credible voice, honesty, and pragmatism — and for his ability to leverage operational excellence and continu…
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Do You Get Paid By Ideas or Hours? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E69
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48:55Jay and Andrew talk about getting paid by ideas versus getting paid by hours, passing the right kind of physical legacy on to your kids, the purposes of reserve cash, and more.Oleh Henry Holsters and Pierson Workholding
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Numbers Without Decisions Are Noise | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E68
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35:20Jay and Andrew start by discussing what they will focus on as business owners coming out of this election. (Hint: focus on what you can control, which, it turns out, is actually quite a lot.) Then they talk about numbers. Some business owners run their operations based on a thorough understanding of all the relevant numbers. For some, this can lead…
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Achieving Healthcare Excellence: Insights from Jarvis Gray on Lean Six Sigma and Leadership
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57:21My guest for Episode #519 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jarvis Gray, the Managing Director of The Quality Coaching Co. He offers more than 16 years of strategic planning, quality improvement, and operations leadership experience in the healthcare industry. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Through his firm, The Quality Coaching…
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Standards Are Gorgeous | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E67
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43:36You know what's really nice? When standards are, y'know, standardized. As in...widely accepted and widely implemented. As opposed to changing between different companies, regions, and manufacturers. This is just one topic Jay and Andrew tackle in this episode on standards, simplicity, and solving problems before they happen. Books mentioned: Lean M…
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Breaking the MRP Insanity Trap: Jerry Wright on Lean Systems and Supply Chain Transformation
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55:33My guest for Episode #518 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jerry Wright, author of the new book The Insanity Trap: What Your MRP Consultant Won't Tell You. Jerry M. Wright, PE, MBA, is an accomplished operations executive and teaching professional with over 39 years of experience in the manufacturing and service sectors. His extensive career …
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Effort Doesn't Equal Output | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E66
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20:53Andrew talks about some really valuable things he's learned from Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy, including the importance of making fewer, better decisions and living in the results economy, not the effort economy.…
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Bruce Hamilton and the Northeast Lean Conference, Toast Kaizen, and More
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16:13My guest for this bonus episode of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bruce Hamilton, who is joining me on the show for the first time. Bruce is a renowned figure in the Lean world, serving as the President of GBMP Consulting Group and Director Emeritus for the Shingo Institute. As a senior examiner and certified workshop facilitator for the Shing…
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Anything Worth Doing is Worth Doing Poorly? | Lean Built - Manufacturing Freedom E65
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51:16Anything worth doing is worth doing well, right? Well, yes! Of course. But, in another sense, anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. Find out the distinction in this episode. You'll also hear Jay ponder the fact that when he doesn't review things with his employees, they tend to forget them. Which may sound like an obvious truth, but who among…
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Jacob Stoller on Productivity Reimagined and Lean's Role in Growth
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47:52My guest for Episode #517 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Jacob Stoller, a journalist, speaker, facilitator, and Shingo-Prize-winning author of The Lean CEO. We talked about that in Episode 221. Episode page with video, transcript, and more His latest book, Productivity Reimagined: Shattering Performance Myths to Achieve Sustainable Growth, …
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