Today’s guest is Gemma Jones.
Gemma started her career studying Mechanical Engineering. She quickly discovered the world of Continuous Improvement and spent 20 years working to improve processes and systems within various manufacturing industries including Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Dairy, Cosmetics & Toiletries, Food, and Medical Devices. She has been a CI Manager numerous times and an Operations Manager running a factory of over 500 people.
In 2018, Gemma left the world of employment to establish her own business, SPARK Improvement, aiming to switch on as many lightbulbs as possible. Her mission is to help organizations be the best they can be, through a combination of Lean Thinking, Toyota Kata, Visual Facilitation, and Experiential Learning.
Gemma is based in Cheshire in the UK.
Links:
Connect with Gemma on LinkedIn
Connect with Gemma on Twitter
Gemma’s Company Spark Improvement
Book recommendation:
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier
Today’s guest is Tracy Defoe,
Tracy Defoe is an adult education consultant specializing in workplace learning. Her work history includes research, teaching, and program development - much of which culminates in peer-led learning.
She is a proud Kata Geek and a humble lean practitioner. For more than 10 years, Tracy has been learning, coaching, and sharing her experiences with the Improvement and Coaching Kata described in Mike Rother's book The Toyota Kata Practice Guide.
Tracy is keen on building community and connecting people. She is co-founder of the worldwide online community Kata Girl Geeks, and of Kata School Cascadia. She also facilitates the Kata Coaching Dojo.
She is a frequent speaker at conferences including KataCon & KataCon Europe.
Links:
Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn
Tracy’s Company The Learning Factor
Today’s guest is Rick Bohan,
Rick is the Owner and Director of Chagrin River Consulting in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Rick’s route in his path to working in lean and continuous improvement started with a mining company in eastern Kentucky, teaching miners about safety, and has progressed over the years in helping steel mills, hotels, and manufacturing companies implement lean manufacturing initiatives and developing growth-oriented strategic plans. Rick’s humility shows through on his LinkedIn profile where he says:
“I'd like to say that I've been successful at helping the companies that have hired me both as an employee and as a consultant. And, in a way, I have. But, really, it was the managers and employees at those companies that were successful. I just got them pointed in the right direction, gave them some tools and ideas, and facilitated their conversations about making needed changes. They did all the heavy lifting.”
Links:
Connect with Rick on LinkedIn
Rick’s Company Chagrin River Consulting
Link to Rick’s Articles in Industry Week
Today’s guest is Adam Lawrence.
Adam is the Managing Partner of Process Improvement Partners, LLC. He has 30+ years of experience in process improvement activities, targeted at manufacturing and business processes. Having facilitated 300+ Kaizen events in multiple industries around the world, Adam aligns with leadership, engages teams, and creates sustainable results.
Adam has mastered the use of many different process improvement methodologies, allowing him to implement the best strategy for each organization’s goals and objectives. He develops sessions that are fun, engaging, and laser-focused. Adam is 100 percent committed to ensuring the team has a winning result and a fantastic experience.
Married to his wonderful wife, Peggy, for 30 years, they have one son (Tyler, his IT department). Adam grew up in the Washington, DC area and received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech. He earned Lean certifications from the University of Michigan.
Adam enjoys time with family and friends, loud music, traveling, the many great clients he has worked with (his extended family), and his many business adventures. The Wheel of Sustainability is his first book.
Links:
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
Adam’s Company Process Improvement Partners, LLC
The Wheel of Sustainability: Engaging and Empowering Teams to Produce Lasting Results by Adam Lawrence