The Lean Enterprise Institute recently published a fantastic podcast conversation with Lean legends Art Byrne, Mark Deluzio and Jim Womack. The conversation, moderated by host Tom Ehrenfeld, covers a wide range of perspectives on the challenges most organizations face in sustaining Lean as an operating strategy. Great insight and some thought-provoking content here from true authorities in the field.

Find the Podcast here: https://www.lean.org/podcast/5418

Snippet:

The long-term success of companies like Danaher, Fortive, Herman Miller, Parker Hannifin and many others, have all validated the power of lean thinking and practice. But if that’s the case, why aren’t there more exemplars? And why do so many companies either intentionally misconstrue Lean, or fail to realize its full promise over time?Long-time Lean veteran Mark Deluzio has recently published Flatlined: Why Lean Transformations Fail and What to Do About It. Join him, Art Byrne, Jim Womack and host Tom Ehrenfeld in a wide-ranging conversation about the ongoing gap between operations at most companies—and an ideal Lean state.Be sure to download an edited transcript of their conversation here.

Mark Deluzio (40:00): “Awada told me six sigma was ‘no good.’ 3.4 parts per million. Why do you accept that? Why not? Why aren't you thinking about zero? ‘3.4, no good.’ You do the math on airplanes. If the airlines flew at six sigma, we'd have a crash every three days.”Art Byrne (47:25): “I think of Lean as a time-based growth strategy, because what it does really is every time you remove waste, you shorten the time it takes to do anything.”