What You’ll Learn:
In this episode, host Patrick Adams is joined by continuous improvement leader Brian DeVries to explore the Kaizen Kit. A hands-on toolkit developed to make lean continuous improvement more accessible and actionable. Created for practical, experience-based learning, the kit includes a set of tools, guided training, and access to a live community of practitioners. Brian shares insights from his career, highlighting the limitations of traditional slide-based training and the power of interactive, real-world application. Together, they discuss how the Kaizen Kit bridges the gap between theory and practice in a way that truly engages teams and drives lasting change.

About the Guest:
Brian is a global leader with over 13 years of experience in driving lean strategy and assessments within manufacturing, food processing, and distribution facilities. Industries served in his career include agriculture, office furniture, food & beverage, golf course maintenance, and insurance. He is dedicated to improving lives through continuous improvement work and focuses on his core values of Happiness, Empathy, and Hope.

Professionally, Brian has been recognized in the lean industry, having been featured on podcasts, served as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Lean Consortium from 2016-2020, and spoken at various conferences, including the 2016 Lean Six Sigma World Conference where his team won the Project of the Year award. He prides himself on empowering those he works with to change their lives and continues to seek opportunities to inspire others.

LINKS:

Click Here For Brian DeVries' LinkedIn

What You’ll Learn:

Join us for this Speaker Special featuring Billy Ray Taylor, with hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich. They discuss Billy Ray Taylor's keynote presentation from the 2024 Lean Solutions Summit, and dive into the importance of standards in leadership, using personal anecdotes and sports metaphors to illustrate his points.

About the Guest:

Billy Ray Taylor is a visionary operations and supply chain leader, former Goodyear executive, and founder of LinkedXL. With a 30-year track record of turning around manufacturing performance and driving over $1 billion in earnings, he’s known for transforming strategy into execution. As author of The Winning Link, Billy Ray shares his Connected Business Model to align teams, foster accountability, and drive results. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, he inspires audiences worldwide as a dynamic keynote speaker.

Links:

Click Here For Billy Ray Taylor's LinkedIn

2025 Lean Solutions Summit

What You’ll Learn:

In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald, Patrick Adams, and guest Olaf Boettger discuss the importance of coaching for success, particularly in developing and mentoring emerging leaders. They highlight the need for leaders to unlearn harmful behaviors and adapt to new leadership styles.

About the Guest:

With 26 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, our guest brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective shaped by leadership roles at two of the world’s most respected organizations: Procter & Gamble and Danaher. He spent 10 years at P&G, including time as a Brand Manager, and 16 years at Danaher, where he served in a variety of critical roles. His expertise spans over three core areas, Business Leadership, Continuous Improvement Leadership, and Executive Coaching. Whether driving operational excellence, leading transformation, or coaching executives, he brings a powerful blend of strategy, systems thinking, and people development to the table.

Links:

Click Here For Olaf Boettger LinkedIn