Show Notes
What You'll Learn in This Episode: In this episode, Patrick Adams is joined by Brett Lesiewicz, Judd VanBergen, and Phil Ranck for a preview of their sessions at the 2026 Lean Solutions Summit. Together, they explore how stronger relationships, proactive planning, and better communication help organizations succeed in uncertain environments. The conversation highlights how Lean tools like the Last Planner System, takt planning, and visual management are transforming the construction industry by creating alignment, improving collaboration, and reducing uncertainty before work even begins. Phil also introduces the Seven Thinking Gears, a structured communication framework designed to make meetings more productive, uncover innovative ideas, and empower every team member to contribute to continuous improvement. Whether you're in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, or another industry, this episode offers practical insights into building stronger teams, improving communication, and creating more predictable results through Lean thinking. Key Takeaways: 1. Strong relationships create certainty in uncertain environments 2. Proactive planning prevents costly rework 3. Better communication unlocks innovation 4. Lean principles apply far beyond manufacturing Links: https://www.findleansolutions.com/ https://www.findleansolutions.com/lean-summit/
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What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What You’ll Learn in This Episode: In this episode, Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald are joined by David Norris to explore why organizations should improve their processes before automating them. They discuss how jumping too quickly into automation or AI can result in organizations simply automating existing waste and complexity. David shares how leaders can understand the current state, identify root causes, involve the people doing the work, and eliminate unnecessary steps before introducing technology. The conversation also explores how to identify good opportunities for automation and build a culture where continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work. Episode 37_otter_ai_transcript Episode 37_otter_ai_transcript Key Takeaways: 1. Don’t automate waste—improve the process before adding technology 2. Understand the current state before designing the future state 3. Involve the people doing the work when identifying problems and improvement opportunities 4. Start small: choose one process, walk it, ask questions, and begin improving Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-norris-17016b146/ https://elevatedmtnsolutions.com/
What You'll Learn in This Episode: In this episode, Patrick Adams and Shayne Daughenbaugh are joined by returning guest Olaf Boettger to explore how continuous improvement and daily management apply beyond traditional operations, including sales, commercial teams, innovation, and product development. They discuss why effective daily management requires the courage to identify problems instead of hiding them, how leaders can create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing bad news, and why curiosity, humility, and consistent leadership behaviors are essential for building a true culture of continuous improvement.