Shingo Principles Podcast

Episode 57: Improvement as a Human Endeavor

In this episode, we explore why sustainable continuous improvement depends less on tools and more on people. Using The Gund Company as a case study, we trace its two-decade journey from Lean tool adoption to a deeply embedded, people-centered system grounded in the Shingo Model. You’ll hear how leaders shifted from driving compliance to developing people—integrating respect, humility, and listening with practices like A3 problem-solving and meaningful gemba engagement. The result? World-class engagement and quality, sustained 15% annual growth, and a culture where people know their contributions matter. For more information, please visit https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].

Episode 56: Leading Through Healthcare Disruption

Health care organizations are entering a period of significant disruption following the passage of H.R. 1, with deep Medicaid cuts, tighter eligibility requirements, and growing administrative complexity reshaping the care landscape—especially for safety-net providers. This moment raises a critical leadership challenge: how to continue delivering high-quality, safe, and accessible care while doing more with fewer resources. This webinar explores why Lean thinking is no longer optional, but essential, in navigating today’s turbulence and building long-term resilience. Drawing on lessons from past disruptions and real-world examples from leading health systems, we will examine how principle-based Lean frameworks help organizations improve cost, quality, access, and patient experience—even under intense pressure. Participants will learn how forward-thinking health care leaders use Lean to strengthen culture and engagement, align strategy with daily operations, redesign care delivery to improve access, reduce administrative burden, and thoughtfully integrate technology and AI. The session emphasizes Lean not as a set of tools, but as a leadership mindset that enables clarity, adaptability, and sustained performance in uncertain times. To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org/articles.

Episode 4: Back to Basics - Tech, Lean, and Shingo

In this episode of the Shingo Back to Basics podcast, Peter Barnett and Nigel Thurlow dive deep into the intersection of technology, Lean practices, and the Shingo Model—and how these elements drive sustainable excellence. Nigel shares two powerful insights: “If you can’t see it, you can’t fix it.” Why is visibility the foundation for solving problems? “Lean has no tools, only behaviors.” What does that mean for leaders and organizations? Tune in to uncover how making problems visible and focusing on behaviors—not just tools—can transform your organization and empower your team to take meaningful action. 🎧 Listen now and take your Lean journey back to basics! To learn more, please visit shingo.org.

Episode 55: Leading Through Neuroscience: Developing Human Management Systems

In this engaging session, Rolando Vargas, Global Director of Organizational Excellence and researcher of NeuroExcellence, reveals how modern management systems can be strengthened by applying insights from neuroscience, neuroeducation, and the Shingo Model. His central message is clear: organizations perform at the speed of human cognition, and leaders can dramatically improve results by designing systems that work with the brain rather than against it. Rolando explains how stress, uncertainty, and overload limit performance, while clarity, trust, autonomy, and meaningful feedback accelerate learning and execution. Participants will explore practical concepts such as SCARF-based communication, motivation hygiene, cognitive load protection, and coaching cadences that reinforce ideal behaviors. Grounded in real-world examples from terminal operations and healthcare, this webinar demonstrates how small adjustments to daily management, reporting, and leader–team interactions can significantly improve psychological safety, decision-making, and consistency. This session offers a clear, actionable lens on organizational excellence that is rooted in biology and driven by principles. Leaders will walk away with practical tools and a deeper understanding of how to shape systems that unlock human capability, strengthen culture, and sustain high performance. To learn more about the Shingo Model, please visit https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].

Episode 54: From Observing to Owning: A New Generation’s Perspective on Leading Huddles

Based on the article “From Observing to Owning: A New Generation’s Perspective on Leading Huddles” by Mark McKenzie and Andrew Martyn, this podcast explores how empowering a Gen Z team member to lead daily huddles transformed them from routine check-ins into meaningful developmental experiences. Andrew shares his journey from passive observation to active leadership and reflects on how trust, humility, and respect can make huddles engaging, productive, and connected. By contrasting previously experienced ineffective huddles with a more inclusive and purposeful approach, he demonstrates how clear intent and ownership can energize a team’s daily rhythm. The discussion emphasizes that huddles are most powerful when they are designed to not only manage work but to develop people. Core lessons include defining the purpose and experience of the huddle, encouraging participation, following standard processes, and fostering continuous improvement. Ultimately, the session highlights how giving ownership to team members builds both capability and culture, turning a simple system into a shared experience that strengthens alignment, engagement, and growth. To learn more, please visit: https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].