Quality Time With MoreSteam

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Michael Hathaway to the show. Michael is MoreSteam's eLearning Content Manager. Before joining MoreSteam, Michael taught at charter schools in Houston and Columbus. Now, Michael uses the lessons he learned as a professional educator to develop eLearning for continuous improvement professionals. Some educational concepts are universal, whether you're teaching kids or Lean Six Sigma Black Belts. Clear storytelling. Rapid feedback. Constant experimentation. That sounds like continuous improvement, right? But it's also great teaching. Listen to this episode to learn more! Yeah, we tease him a lot, 'cause we got him on the spot, Welcome Back, Michael! In this episode, you will hear about: 2:07 - Michael's background in education 3:20 - From middle school to MoreSteam 5:17 - Applying the lessons learned as an educator 7:44 - Continuous improvement at Yes Prep and KIPP 13:56 - Using data to create more effective eLearning 16:12 - Updating content as learning evolves 19:28 - Teaching the soft skills of continuous improvement 22:03 - Motivating learners 26:46 - Working with Mel Coyle at MoreSteam 28:27 - The future of eLearning Additional Resources: Michael Hathaway on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Process Playground MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout sits down with Dr. Mary Reich Cooper and Michael Anderson from the Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University. The conversation explores how Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence are put to work in healthcare settings. Michael is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Mary brings experience as a physician and holds a law degree. Their unique backgrounds shape the way they tackle challenges at Jefferson, from managing change to finding better ways to support patients and staff. This episode also looks at the realities of standardizing care in a people-focused environment and the ongoing effort to improve handoffs in healthcare. With a few nods to football (Fly, Eagles Fly) and life in Philadelphia, you will get a look at continuous improvement in action at one of the country's leading academic health institutions. In this episode, you will hear about: 2:46 - Medicine, Law, and Lean Six Sigma 5:53 - Informatics 7:26 - Leveraging diverse backgrounds while collaborating 11:40 - Healthcare and "widgets" 13:14 - Lean Six Sigma and patient safety 15:56 - Advice for other healthcare organizations 18:44 - Using Lean Six Sigma to fight staff burnout 20:40 - Continuous improvement in the healthcare curriculum 22:08 - What healthcare can learn from other sectors 23:16 - Handoffs in healthcare 25:32 - Future trends in process improvement and healthcare Additional Resources: Michael Anderson on LinkedIn Dr. Mary Reich Cooper on LinkedIn The Jefferson College of Population Health MoreSteam's Process Playground MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

What's better than one Lean Six Sigma Black Belt? Two! On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Lean Six Sigma Black Belts Raquel Chase-Kelly and James Perry to the show. Raquel and James work for Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics and use process modeling to streamline hospital operations and improve patient care. Process modeling lets you rapidly simulate and anticipate how a system reacts to different situations. During this fun, informative chat, James and Raquel explain how MoreSteam's Process Playground helped Dartmouth Health clear a 155-car backup at a drive-through flu clinic and fix an MRI backlog. This episode also covers building a model with imperfect data and fighting staff burnout. Of course, as always, there are some laughs along the way. Listen and find out why everybody should have a Jamie. In this episode, you will hear about: 2:23 - The backgrounds of our guests 5:22 - Using Process Playground during the pandemic 6:37 - Streamlining the drive-through flu clinic 9:29 - Starting out with process modeling, simulations, and Process Playground 11:05 - Building models with imperfect data 13:09 - Fixing the MRI backlog 14:50 - Modeling shows the need for additional staff 16:03 - Using Process Playground to advocate for staff well-being 18:48 - The magic of process improvement 20:57 - Teaching process improvement at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Value Institute Learning Center 25:05 - Collaborating with other healthcare providers 26:14 - Advice for beginners in process improvement 27:49 - Future challenges in healthcare 32:00 - Closing thoughts Additional Resources: James Perry on LinkedIn Raquel Chase-Kelly on LinkedIn The Dartmouth Hitchcock Value Institute Learning Center MoreSteam's Process Playground MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout welcomes Dr. Larry Inks to the show. Larry is a Professor of Management and Human Resources at The Ohio State University who previously ran talent management for Cardinal Health. Dan and Larry discuss why one clear goal keeps a team focused. They also explore change management, including the emotional aspects of change, and the differences between management and leadership. Listen and find out why Larry is one of the foremost experts on talent management and team effectiveness. In addition to being informative and helpful, this is one of the most entertaining episodes of Quality Time with MoreSteam. Larry kept Dan laughing throughout the conversation. Clutter in your junk drawer? It's here. Cleaning out your garage? We've got it. Even WKRP in Cincinnati? Absolutely. You won't want to miss this one. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:08 - Larry's background 5:07 - Building successful teams 7:04 - Setting goals that work 9:54 - Empathy, compassion, and organizational leadership 11:36 - The difference between managing and leading 13:14 - Being authentic as a leader 16:35 - Making changes that last 21:30 - Helping people work through the emotional side of change 25:24 - The quiet resistance to change 27:20 - Remote work versus return-to-office 34:31 - Thoughts on resilience Additional Resources: Larry Inks, PhD, on LinkedIn Larry Inks, PhD, at The Ohio State University MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

Step onto the field with host Dan Swartwout as he explores a new playbook for improvement. In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan tells the story of the fictional Columbus Tigers, a football team that turns around its losing streak using Lean Six Sigma. (There actually was a Columbus Tigers pro football team about a century ago!) Football is familiar territory for many, and this episode uses the game as a fresh lens for understanding process improvement. Dan breaks down Lean Six Sigma concepts in plain language and shows how tools like process maps and dashboards can drive real change. The action on the field becomes a guide for tackling challenges in any organization. See how the strategies behind winning games translate to smarter teamwork, fewer errors, and better results everywhere. Lean Six Sigma steps out of the factory and onto the gridiron, making continuous improvement accessible, practical, and a little more exciting. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:32 - Introducing the Tigers 4:05 - Lean Six Sigma defined 5:59 - The DMAIC framework, starting with Define 7:38 - Measure 9:21 - Analyze 12:29 - Improve 14:51 - Control 16:16 - The results 17:31 - Recapping the Lean Six Sigma tools used by the Tigers 21:42 - The purpose of this episode Additional Resources: The Most Recent Street Stats Video Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dr. Jim Cole joins the podcast to share how process improvement has guided his work in both military and healthcare settings. Dr. Cole introduces tools like the Marine Corps Planning Process, OODA loops, and operational risk management. Jim shares how these military methods helped him tackle challenges in civilian healthcare. To that end, Dr. Cole reflects on creating efficient systems for bed availability and managing variation to establish standard work. This conversation highlights how practical tools and strong leadership can transform even the toughest situations into opportunities for improvement. Plus, for you music fans, there are references to AC/DC, Cheap Trick, and Stray Cats! In this episode, you will hear about: 2:41 - Jim's background in the military and medicine 4:39 - Growing up in Suburban Chicago 7:05 - College, the military, and medical school 7:53 - The Navy Seals 10:52 - Process Improvement and Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer Training 15:28 - The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act 16:45 - Operational Risk Management 19:57 - Using military training in Process Improvement for civilian healthcare 24:02 - Addressing hospital bed availability 29:17 - Introducing Process Improvement to an initially reluctant team 31:33 - Variation and Standard Work 34:07 - Reviewing the data and performance metrics 35:59 - Keys to leadership 38:17 - Depictions of surgery in movies and TV 41:21 - From chaos to order Additional Resources: Trauma: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon Dr. Jim Cole on LinkedIn Dr. Jim Cole at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout talks with Mark Reich. Mark is Senior Lean Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute and author of the new book, Managing On Purpose. Mark's book is a practical guide to Hoshin Kanri, a strategy deployment system that combines long-term vision with day-to-day execution. Managing On Purpose features step-by-step tools and a detailed case study to help organizations align strategy with action while developing their leaders. Mark shares stories from his career, including his time managing Toyota's corporate strategic planning for North America. He explains how tools like "catchball" and "obeya" help organizations foster collaboration and track progress effectively. Mark also emphasizes the importance of leadership behaviors in creating a culture where problems are opportunities for growth. This episode is packed with insights on strategy deployment, leadership development, and creating purpose-driven organizations. Don't miss this fun, informative conversation with one of Lean's most experienced practitioners. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:48 - Mark's background 5:34 - Working for Toyota in Japan 7:28 - The Toyota Supplier Support Center (now the Toyota Production Systems Support Center) 9:49 - Writing Managing on Purpose 12:40 - An introduction to Hoshin Kanri 18:04 - PDCA (Plan. Do. Check. Act.) 20:43 - Understanding problems at the Gemba 24:11 - The concept of Obeya 28:48 - The concept of Catchball 34:04 - Value-creating work versus non-value-creating work 37:34 - Hoshin Kanri and leadership 40:10 - Initial feedback to Managing on Purpose 42:30 - The changing business environment 46:02 - The opportunity for everybody to innovate 49:02 - Mark's next project Additional Resources: Order Managing on Purpose Mark Reich on LinkedIn Mark Reich at the Lean Enterprise Institute Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

In this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Dan Swartwout chats with Kim Koning, Aurorium's Global Director of Operational Excellence and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Kim shares his journey from wrestling mats in Indiana to leading global process improvement initiatives. He also reflects on how lessons from his early career as a plant manager and his MBA in finance shaped his approach to leadership and continuous improvement. Kim shares why Gemba walks are his favorite part of the day and how they help build trust on the shop floor. Another standout moment is when Kim recounts his "aha" realization—the day he saw Lean Six Sigma as the key to staying competitive. At home, Kim's audience of eight might roll their eyes at his continuous improvement experiments. But on Quality Time with MoreSteam, his experiments find a much bigger audience. In this episode, you will hear about: 2:00 - Kim's background 2:52 - Wrestling with continuous improvement 4:36 - Going to Purdue 5:45 - Plant management 7:24 - Gemba walks 9:27 - Statistics and probability 11:24 - Kim's thoughts on Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence 20:44 - The Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference 23:36 - The Master Black Belt challenge 26:23 - Kim's "aha!" moment Additional Resources: MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

We're throwing a party for the big 2-5! MoreSteam is turning 25, and what better way to celebrate than with the 25th episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam! This special episode takes you on a journey through 25 standout moments from the podcast. Host Dan Swartwout revisits some of the most interesting, surprising, and entertaining highlights from past episodes. From creative uses of Lean Six Sigma to moments that made us laugh (or think twice), this collection captures everything we love about continuous improvement—and then some. It's a greatest-hits celebration packed with sharp takes, unexpected twists, and plenty of reasons to celebrate 25 years of making things better. Cheers to MoreSteam! In this episode, you will hear about: 1:11 - Peg Pennington 2:01 - Rich "Raz" Razgaitis 2:37 - Alan Payne 3:25 - Shawn Washburn 4:09 - Alan Goodman 4:53 - Ken Robinette 5:41 - Emmanuel Aouad ("Gemba Walk") 7:30 - Omar Mora 8:11 - Karina Kretz 9:00 - Maria Fry 10:05 - Generative AI and Process Improvement 11:27 - MoreSteam's Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference 13:00 - Brian Bross 14:14 - Dino Tripodis 15:22 - Kevin Keller 16:25 - Peter Ward 17:37 - Meredith Brody 18:46 - Getting in the Holiday Spirit 19:38 - Ryan Weiss 24:13 - Thomas Paider 26:23 - Chris Spranger 27:37 - Bill Hathaway 29:09 - Writing Jokes with Generative AI 32:54 - The 25th Moment Additional Resources: MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time With MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart

MoreSteam is celebrating 25 years of process improvement! In this episode, MoreSteam founder and CEO Bill Hathaway joins the show to talk about all the milestones, mistakes, and defining moments. Bill shares stories from his early days in manufacturing, including a memorable encounter with instrument panels that didn't quite fit (spoiler: kicking them wasn't the best solution). He also talks about the leap from corporate life to starting MoreSteam, how the company got its unique name, and what it was like running the business out of his home—with his dog as VP of Security. The conversation covers lessons in leadership, the evolution of process improvement, and why unglamorous work is often the most important. Bill also reflects on the future of MoreSteam and the role of technology, like generative AI, in solving tomorrow's problems. Join us for a candid discussion about the past, present, and future of Lean Six Sigma, operational excellence, and continuous improvement at MoreSteam. In this episode, you will hear about: 1:59 - Bill's First Experiences with Quality and Process Improvement 5:36 - The Beginning of MoreSteam 10:49 - The Name of the Company 13:36 - The Challenges of Running a Business Out of Your Home 15:17 - Moving Into MoreSteam's First Office 18:10 - Mistakes Along the Way 22:53 - From Content to Software: EngineRoom 25:10 - Bill's Secret to Leadership 28:06 - Connecting to MoreSteam's Mission 30:12 - In Praise of Unglamorous Activities 31:26 - The Future of MoreSteam 35:50 - The Team Sport of Continuous Improvement Additional Resources: Bill Hathaway on LinkedIn In Praise of Unglamorous Activities Quality Time with MoreSteam on Facebook Quality Time with MoreSteam on Instagram Quality Time with MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's Website Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter MoreSteam on LinkedIn MoreSteam's YouTube Channel Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn Subscribe to Quality Time with MoreSteam Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music YouTube iHeart