Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

• Leading Lean for Profitable Growth: CEO Bill Canady on Driving Business Transformation

  My guest for Episode #526 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Bill Canady, a seasoned global business executive, U.S. Navy veteran, and current CEO of Arrowhead Engineered Products. Bill has led over 30 operating companies and thousands of employees across the industrial and consumer products landscape. Formerly CEO of OTC Industrial Technologies, he helped drive impressive growth-boosting revenues by 43% and earnings by 78%. Bill is also the author of The 80/20 CEO and the upcoming From Panic to Profit, and he's a vocal advocate for using Lean and the 80/20 principle as complementary tools for transformation. Join Bill for a live Q&A webinar on April 23rd via KaiNexus! We discuss Bill’s personal Lean journey, which began with Six Sigma and evolved into a deep appreciation for the power of Lean and continuous improvement. He shares how daily management, Kaizen events, and a focus on flow became core to his leadership toolkit—not just on the shop floor but also across the “carpeted” functions like order-to-cash and sales. As CEO, Bill doesn’t just support Lean; he expects it. He talks candidly about making continuous improvement a condition of employment, not through fear, but by creating a culture where people feel safe, engaged, and energized by problem-solving. You’ll hear Bill’s insights on applying Lean as a strategic enabler for profitable growth—not just a cost-cutting tool. He explains how the 80/20 principle helps companies focus their improvement energy on what really matters and how Lean helps teams sustain those improvements. He also shares real-world lessons on leadership, cultural alignment, and navigating resistance to change—especially among those clinging to old firefighting habits. Whether you’re a Lean practitioner, an executive, or someone aspiring to lead, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom. Bill offers a compelling blueprint for how to lead with humility, clarity, and purpose—using Lean and the 80/20 mindset to build resilient, high-performing organizations. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: Can you share your origin story with continuous improvement and Lean? What was the context in which you were first introduced to these methodologies? How did your role evolve from operations into broader P&L responsibility? How did your perspective on Lean shift when you became a CEO? What role does daily management play in sustaining operational excellence? How do you apply Lean principles outside the factory floor—especially in “carpet land”? As a CEO, how do you strike the balance between solving problems yourself and enabling others to be problem solvers? How do you respond when leaders or team members resist Lean thinking or default to old firefighting habits? What does it mean to make Lean a “condition of employment,” and how do you introduce that mindset? How do you ensure people understand Lean isn’t about layoffs, but about redeployment and growth? How do you connect Lean initiatives with business growth, not just cost reduction? Do you have an example of how improving quality or delivery led directly to business growth or profitability? What inspired you to write your first book, The 80/20 CEO? Why are the first 100 days so critical for a new leader? How does the 80/20 principle help leaders prioritize improvement efforts? What’s the relationship between 80/20 analysis and Lean execution in your approach? What can we do to help more CEOs understand and embrace Lean as a strategic business system? How can companies start building momentum with Lean—even if they’re just getting started? What’s the focus of your new book From Panic to Profit, and how does it expand on your first? This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

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• From Noise to Knowledge: Embracing Data-Driven Leadership - Christopher R. Chapman

  My guest for Episode #525 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Christopher R. Chapman. He's an experienced agile coach and consultant with a background in software development and agile transformation. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Since founding Derailleur Consulting in 2010, he has guided teams and leaders in adopting agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban while integrating applied systems thinking inspired by Deming and other thought leaders. Christopher is also known for cultivating communities through initiatives such as #SystemsThinkingTO and for sharing his insights in his popular Substack newsletter, The Digestible Deming. In this episode, Chris and I discussed our upcoming collaborative workshops--"From Noise to Knowledge, Executive Leadership Through Data Driven Insight"--scheduled for May 13 in Toronto and June 17 in Cincinnati. We highlighted how the sessions will blend experiential learning, such as the Red Bead Experiment, with practical tools like process behavior charts to help leaders decode variation and improve decision-making. The conversation emphasized the Deming philosophy as a core framework, exploring how leadership behaviors and systemic practices directly impact team performance and overall organizational quality. We also noted the engaging social aspect of the workshops, mentioning optional outings to local MLB baseball games as an opportunity for continued dialogue. The discussion then shifted to our personal journeys with continuous improvement, agile methodologies, and the evolution of leadership roles. Chris shared insights from his transition from software development to coaching senior management, focusing on moving beyond traditional, isolated team interventions toward a holistic, systems-oriented approach. We both underlined the need for leadership to embrace a mindset shift--recognizing that issues within teams often reflect broader organizational constraints. We also debated common pitfalls, such as misinterpreting data due to superficial analyses, and argued for using robust, statistical tools to establish meaningful insights, setting the stage for transformative change in management practices. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: How do Deming's principles transform executive leadership and team performance? What key insights does the Red Bead Experiment offer for practical improvement? In what ways do process behavior charts enhance decision-making in complex systems? How can agile methodologies and Deming's philosophy be integrated effectively? What systemic issues underlie team challenges, and how should leadership address them? How can statistical process control complement traditional metrics in agile environments? What strategies enable leaders to shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive system improvement? How do extrinsic incentives impact collaboration and quality within teams? What methods best embed systems thinking into agile practices? How can workshop formats foster lasting changes in leadership mindsets? This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

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• John Willis on Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge in IT & DevOps

  My guest for Episode #524 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is John Willis, an accomplished IT management expert with over 45 years of experience. His extensive body of work includes contributions to Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge and co-authoring The DevOps Handbook. See video, transcript, and more Hosts a podcast that I was recently on, "Profound." John focuses his current research on DevOps, DevSecOps, IT risk, modern governance, and audit compliance. Over the course of his career, he has sold companies to Docker and Dell, and he played a foundational role at Opscode (now Chef). In addition, John founded Gulf Breeze Software, an award-winning IBM business partner recognized for its successful deployment of Tivoli technology for enterprise clients. He has authored six IBM Redbooks on enterprise systems management and served as the founder and chief architect of Chain Bridge Systems. Altogether, John has written more than 11 books and launched over 10 startups, cementing his reputation as a significant innovator in the IT industry. In this episode, the discussion navigates the intersection of lean principles, agile methodologies, and Deming's philosophies as they apply to modern IT and operations. John delves into how systems thinking, profound knowledge, and psychological safety underpin effective incident management and cybersecurity practices. The conversation explores practical challenges and the proactive strategies necessary for integrating legacy improvement methods with today's cloud innovations and infrastructure as code. Throughout the episode, John examines the real-world application of these timeless principles, offering listeners actionable insights into continuous improvement and risk management. He highlights the importance of questioning established norms and embracing complexity to drive operational excellence, providing a compelling roadmap for navigating the evolving digital landscape. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: Could you share your origin story regarding Lean and continuous improvement--specifically, what you learned during your early years at Exxon? How have you seen Deming's principle of eliminating fear put into practice in IT and entrepreneurial settings? Is the phenomenon you described established fact or more of a hypothesis? How can we confirm or measure the validity of that knowledge? Why do you consider cyber terrorism one of today's most significant threats? This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

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• Innovating Patient Safety: Mike Eisenberg Discusses Healthcare Technology and Trust

  My 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 safety efforts as the director of the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) until his passing in 2002. His legacy is prevalent throughout Mike’s presentation, as well as his approach. His new documentary, released last September, is titled “The Pitch: Patient Safety's Next Generation.”  He previously joined us in Episode #329, where we discussed his film "To Err is Human." In 2006, Mike was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the MLB Draft and played 3 seasons of professional baseball before beginning his filmmaking career. He now speaks at hospitals, universities, and conferences, where his insight provides a new perspective on a problem that persists across the globe. In today's episode, we explore the evolution of patient safety and the transformative role of technology in healthcare. The conversation dives into how innovations—from advanced command centers to cutting-edge virtual reality and AI applications—are redefining how hospitals prevent and respond to medical errors. The discussion challenges the conventional blame-and-shame approach and instead highlights the importance of building systems that foster trust and resilience among healthcare professionals and patients alike. We also examine the nuances of integrating technology into complex healthcare environments, discussing how effective communication, standardized protocols, and smart design can work together to minimize human error. Drawing insightful parallels with industries like aviation, the episode offers a fresh perspective on the critical need for systemic improvements and the potential for new technological solutions to drive the next generation of patient safety. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: How is technology transforming patient safety in healthcare? What role do advanced command centers, virtual reality, and AI play in preventing medical errors? How can healthcare shift away from a blame-and-shame culture? What strategies build trust and resilience among healthcare professionals and patients? How do effective communication, standardized protocols, and smart design minimize human error? What lessons can be learned from the aviation industry regarding safety and error management? What challenges arise when integrating technology into complex healthcare environments? How can innovation drive the next generation of patient safety? This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

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• Bridging the Communication Gap in Lean: What We Can Learn from Journalism with Jacquie Maupin

  Episode 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, will lead a session titled "From Analysis to Action: Bridging the Gap with Effective Presentations" on February 19. This interactive workshop is designed to help attendees sharpen their communication skills, structure data-driven narratives, and effectively engage executives and stakeholders. Whether you're attending this year or considering next year's event, this conversation offers valuable insights into the intersection of Lean, process improvement, and communication. In this episode, we discuss how journalism and communication skills can enhance Lean and process improvement efforts. Jacquie shares how her background in journalism and military leadership shaped her approach to problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and storytelling in the world of healthcare improvement. We explore the parallels between investigative reporting and Lean methodology—how asking the right questions, structuring information effectively, and communicating insights clearly can drive meaningful change. We also dive into Jacquie's upcoming workshop, where she and her co-presenter, Lauren Todd, will guide attendees through strategies for tailoring presentations to different audiences, crafting compelling data-driven narratives, and influencing decision-making. Whether you're attending this year or looking for ways to elevate your communication skills in process improvement, this episode is packed with valuable lessons. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: Can you share your Lean origin story and career path? How did your background in journalism and the military shape your approach to process improvement? What sparked your interest in healthcare and led you to Georgetown University Hospital? What were some of the most impactful projects you worked on at Georgetown? How does process mapping help break down silos and improve collaboration? What journalism skills translate well to process improvement and Lean work? How do you approach communicating with executives to ensure your message is understood? What challenges have you faced in presenting Lean concepts to different audiences? How can process improvement teams better tell their success stories and demonstrate value? What insights will attendees gain from your upcoming workshop at the Healthcare Systems Process Improvement Conference?  

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