Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement

Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement

Longtime manufacturing process engineer and trainer John Dyer discusses operational excellence and continuous improvement with Professor Mohamed Saleh, a Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement expert. Between them, the two share nearly 60 years of continuous improvement expertise. IndustryWeek has partnered with Dyer and Saleh to present their insights to a wide audience of manufacturing professionals.

Episodes

October 23, 2025 22 mins

Assess your own leadership DNA against these 10 leadership characteristics. 

Mark as Played

Dive into the practical side of coaching: five powerful vehicles leaders can use to shift from a directive, command-based mindset to one rooted in growth, development, and shared success.

Mark as Played

Explore the real purpose of leadership: coaching and developing others. Unpack how traditional hierarchies reward comparison and control, while true leadership multiplies capability and distributes power.

Mark as Played

Whether you’re leading a transformation or supporting a team through daily challenges, these three interwoven traits define whether you thrive—or just survive.

Mark as Played

Explore the critical differences between sympathy and empathy and why the latter is essential for meaningful leadership.

Mark as Played

Delve into the delicate balance between waiting for enough information to make a sound decision versus falling into paralysis by analysis. Understand the art of determining: What is the minimum amount of information I need to make a decision?

Mark as Played

Dive into the biggest roadblocks that hinder true systems thinking, including prioritizing short-term wins over long-term vision, creating a fire-fighting culture and avoid risk to the extreme. 

Mark as Played

Explore the horizontal understanding of interconnected systems, emphasizing the need to see the whole without getting lost in the details or abstractions. Also dive into the vertical balance of macro and micro perspectives, challenging the flawed assumption that leaders with strong granular skills can automatically adapt to macro-level thinking. 

Mark as Played

Explore the transformative power of a well-articulated vision and how successful leaders focus on “must-do, can’t-fail” breakthroughs that align with their organization’s purpose. Also learn how clarity in vision can motivate those around you, eliminate distractions and even prompt innovative pivots in business models

Mark as Played

Explore the mindset shifts required for effective leadership, including fostering open-mindedness, a growth mindset, self-awareness, adaptability, humility, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Learn how these qualities become a litmus test for determining who’s truly “all in” on transformation.

Mark as Played

Respect for people isn’t a slogan—it’s a leadership condition. Tune in to discover why it’s time to flip the script and treat respect for people as the root of transformation.

Mark as Played

Learn how engaging with your team at the gemba, or where the work happens—and with the right mindset—builds trust, amplifies decision-making and creates psychological safety.

Mark as Played

Explore how true leaders adopt a team-over-self mindset, embody humility and prioritize removing obstacles for their teams.

Mark as Played
September 23, 2025 19 mins

Explore how to create a training roadmap that drives genuine lean leadership and avoids the pitfalls of empty certification. Learn the dangers of taking a cookie-cutter approach. 

Mark as Played
September 22, 2025 24 mins

Explore how to craft training experiences that don’t just deliver knowledge but ensure it is gained, transferred, and retained. Review dynamic approaches like simulations, on-the-job training, breakouts, and role-playing.

Mark as Played

Explore the difference between training that sparks meaningful improvement and training that falls flat. Learn about the most effective approaches—like hands-on simulations and engaging adult learners through active participation—versus the common pitfalls of overloading with theory or skipping leadership involvement.

Mark as Played

Dive into what happens when the push for progress becomes a burden rather than a boost. How do you keep your people engaged and inspired when they’ve been burned before, or when they’re simply recovering from the last big change?

Mark as Played

Dive into one of the most challenging dynamics of organizational change and leadership change resistance: navigating the loss of control during times of change. As leaders shift from the familiar role of the “firefighter hero” to empowering their teams as the true heroes, they face a profound identity shift. How do we retire that hero’s cap and elevate others through recognition and a reward system that celebrates the best coaches,...

Mark as Played

Explore the psychological and emotional drivers behind this resistance, and learn how leaders can recognize these barriers and implement strategies to transform resistance into acceptance, turning potential roadblocks into opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Mark as Played

Traditional vertical hierarchies often stifle communication, slow decision-making and create barriers to innovation. Shifting to a horizontal, decentralized structure can break down these barriers and foster a culture of open, two-way communication. Explore strategies for leaders looking to implement horizontal communication channels in their organizations.

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

    It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.