Shingo Principles Podcast

Episode 61: Respect - The Practice Behind the Principle

What does it really mean to respect every individual—and how can leaders turn that principle into everyday practice? In this episode, Josh McEwan, manufacturing research and development director at O.C. Tanner, shares lessons from the organization’s transformation and his own leadership journey. Josh explains how listening to employees, removing obstacles, welcoming diverse perspectives, and giving people ownership can strengthen trust, collaboration, and results. Through candid stories of successes and mistakes, he shows why respectful leadership requires humility, honest feedback, and a genuine commitment to understanding the experiences of others. To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].

Episode 62: Accelerating Operational Excellence: How Systems Design and Leadership Drive Shingo Transformation

What does it take to create lasting improvement—not just better numbers? In this episode, Danilo Rodriguez Santos, maintenance leader at Vale, shares how the company’s railway maintenance operation in São Luís, Brazil, used the Shingo Model to connect systems, leadership, and people on its journey to receiving Shingo Silver in 2025.   Danilo explores how active listening, leadership humility, direct observation, and a focus on behaviors helped engage employees and build a culture capable of sustaining results. He also shares practical insights into developing systems, using KPIs and KBIs, and creating an environment where people feel empowered to improve every day. For more information, please visit https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].

Episode 6: Back to Basics: Transformation, Leadership, and Continuous Improvement

In this Back to Basics episode, Shaun Barker welcomes Virginia Cosgriff, Operational Excellence Director at McGough, for a conversation about transformation, leadership, and continuous improvement across industries. Virginia began her career in healthcare before bringing her industrial engineering expertise to construction. Along the way, she's been "sneakily" applying the Shingo Model to strengthen culture and improve performance. Now, she's helping guide McGough on its formal Shingo Challenge journey. Discover how timeless principles can create lasting results—whether you're caring for patients, building hospital wings, or leading organizational transformation. To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].

Episode 5: Back to Basics: How Leadership Style Shapes Culture with Alisha Garrett

Unlock the power of leadership style in shaping the culture and performance of your organization. In this episode, we sit down with Alisha Garrett, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer at Utah Transit Authority, to explore how a leader’s approach influences their teams, their systems, and the overall organizational environment. Alisha shares practical insights from her executive experience—highlighting the connection between leadership behaviors, strategic alignment, and the cultural outcomes that follow. Whether you're a seasoned leader or developing your leadership journey, this conversation offers valuable takeaways you can apply today. 🎧 Listen now and elevate your leadership impact. To learn more about the Shingo Model, please visit https://shingo.org [https://shingo.org].

Episode 60: You Can Be Lean and Creative

In this session, innovation excellence experts Norbert Majerus and Brian Abraham explore how the Shingo Model extends beyond Lean, serving as a powerful framework for building cultures where creativity and innovation thrive. Challenging the common belief that Lean stifles innovation, the presenters share insights and experiences that reveal the true barrier: organizational culture. After uncovering how fear of failure, misaligned leadership, and rigid processes often limit innovation, they reveal how the Shingo Model helps overcome these obstacles. In addition to highlighting practical strategies to foster psychological safety, empower employees at every level, and encourage experimentation through low-risk, high-impact approaches, the session showcases compelling examples, from employee-driven innovation systems to hands-on “moonshine labs,” that demonstrate how organizations can embed creativity into daily operations. With an emphasis on the importance of aligning innovation with strategy, this session outlines how to channel creative energy toward meaningful outcomes, ensuring that ideas deliver real value to both customers and the organization. Whether you’re leading a transformation or looking to ignite ideas, this session offers actionable insights to help you integrate innovation with operational excellence. Join us to learn how the Shingo Model can unlock the full creative potential of your people—and position your organization for sustained success. For more information, please visit https://shingo.org.