The Rest is Lean
The Rest is Lean Channel is a light-hearted and educational look at how to make businesses better through Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence.
Suited for all levels of understanding and from any industry or geographical region.
John, Alan & Russell are time-served lean professionals with over 30 years each in this field. Leading and coaching some of the best businesses from SMEs to multi-nationals.
Trained by some of the highest calibre Japanese masters from Toyota(one step from Ohno himself), Honda and Nissan , we want to share our experiences with you, allowing some of these 'pearls of wisdom' to help make your business processes, people, and profitability that little bit better each day.
We welcome your comments, questions, and guidance on future discussion topics so feel free to drop us a line via the comments section or via email.
therestislean@gmail.com
Oh, and don't forget to subscribe!!
Episodes
20 episodes
Visual Management, Gemba and Escalation aka 'The Autonomic System'
Following on from the last episode on SQCDP, the #tril Team use this as an opportunity to answer some of the great questions we've had from our listeners.Topics include: - Visual Management in general- T...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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28:16
Measuring SQCDP and ensuring value over cost aka 'The measures of unintended consequence'
Following the aftermath of #subcon2025, Team #TRIL discuss the dangers of measuring the wrong things in your business. and how to ensure you have balance to drive the right behaviours and enable your business to thrive!Other topics incl...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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34:10
Keeping it simple is the key to sustainable lean transformation aka 'Goat or Car'
Sustainability and keeping it simple!! Continuing our conversations around lean transformation and sustaining it in your business, John, Russell & Alan (Team#tril) have finally recovered from their trip to #subcon2025.
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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28:45
#subcon2025 Special Edition. Podcast live at the NEC 'Why lean sustainability can fail'
For the first time ever, The Rest is Lean Podcast goes on the road! This time to Subcon2025 at the NEC in Birmingham UK. #subcon2025 The #trilteam enjoy a jam-packed 2 days at the event, taking in some fantastic examples of man...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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30:41
Barriers to sustainable Lean. Visible support & need 4 lean aka 'When no problem is a problem'
Sustainability is the name of the game. Lean Transformations and how to make them stick!In preparation for our pending visit to #subcon2025, Team #tril discuss some of the key attributes that make a lean transformation a successful l...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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28:36
Useful Gadgets & Team Dynamics for #lean professionals #nlp aka 'Man Down Man Down!'
Oh no what are we to do? Where is Russell?Both John and Alan hold the fort this time around as Russ takes a well deserved break.As well as catching up on recent events, the #TRILTeam (Lite!) get onto the topics of Team Dynamics ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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44:51
Quality, Cost & Delivery #qcd The essential KPI's for every lean team brief? aka Q&A Session
If you thought the last episode was a good one then you're in for a real treat with this!Our first Q&A Podcast of the new series sees #TeamTRIL go through a raft of questions posed by our subscribers.Our Japanese word of the...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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50:41
The 4 types of problem solving skill. Is return to standard Kaizen? aka New season Rambling
Series 2 gets underway with a belter!#TeamTRIL share some of their problem solving experiences (good & bad).There's some good old-fashioned 'kimono opening' by the guys along with Russ' Japanese Word of the Week and his "Ambush ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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43:32
Rachel Reeves faces UK manufacturing questions aka 'Look after our SMEs & Apprentices!'
As Series 1 comes to a close #TeamTRIL discuss Russ' recent visit to the Make UK Conference in London. As well as playing 'Word Bingo' and fine craft beers (don't ask!!), some of the key qu...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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43:10
Jugaad to TPM. The merits of using foreign words in your business aka "Talking Japanese'
The Team discuss the use of non-native words and phrases within your business. Do they help or hinder? #Jugaad makes an unexpected appearance! Do Three-letter acronyms count as a foreig...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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40:45
Start your lean journey. Is Honda, Toyota, Nissan's approach different? aka 'A Borg Mentality'
This episode is a real rollercoaster of a podcast!The TRIL Team offer their thoughts on a question about how to start your lean journey if your the leader of a business.They cover the capabilities required to make highly effecti...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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55:13
Who is the best Operator? & how does a group share lean practice aka Buddy plants & pull
This episode is jam-packed with tips and stories from our previous lean exploits. Picking up from an audience question, the team quickly get on to the topic of discussing their 'Best' Operator experiences. Also, how lean (if applied effectively...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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51:23
Avoid the most common red tagging mistakes in 5S activities aka 'A Dose of 5S Part 2'
This episode continues from the great discussions the team had previously on 5S (or 5C)Alan, Russell & John reflect on their experiences on 5S activities they've led over the yearsThe purpose of 5SThe real intent...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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45:14
Deploying 5S, 5C, Workplace Organisation. It's a Lean model, not a script aka 'A Dose of 5S'
In this episode, the guys give their views and responses to some of the subscriber questions, including a continuation from our previous episode around 'The Toughest Job'.Having discussed what the guys have been up to since they last me...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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45:21
We name the toughest job in manufacturing & how to support them in lean aka "well meant intent"
In this episode, the guys give their views and responses to some of the subscriber questions, including the power of perspective!Russell also poses the question on what is the toughest role in an organisation. Many of you maybe...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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48:51
Live Pareto charts and alternate data for effective CI Op-ex and Lean, aka 'Skip Diving'
In this episode, the guys discuss Data and Digital Transformation. From the pitfalls of planning and preparation to simple, low cost alternatives to converting data into accurate information quickly, allowing you to make the right decisions fas...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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46:47
Effective Start of Shift Briefs and the negative impact of bad ones aka 'Check-in Fury'
In this episode, the guys find out that the podcast is gaining global reach and they take some Q&A from the audience.They also offer their take on the importance of starting your shift well and how to make your start of shift briefs...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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39:33
The nature of night shifts, and avoiding the lean blocker 'Silo Mentality' aka 'Night Silos'
In this Episode, the boys discuss amoungst other things, The culture challenges and advantages of working on Night shifts. Also we look at the importance of avoiding departmental or 'Silo' mentality. Russel also shares a top tip for ou...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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45:10
How to assess a company QUICKLY, for Lean traits aka First Visit tips
In this Episode, the boys share some quick and easy techniques to learn about a company on a first visit, or to find out more about your own company. These techniques will often lead to insights and opportunities to improveIf you want d...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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12:18
What makes a good lean change agent aka Avengers Assemble, and how we got started in Lean
In this episode, the boys share how they first got into Lean, and start to debate what makes someone well suited to a role as a 'change agent'If you want dry, facts or lessons on the use of Lean tools, you may need to look elsewhere. Bu...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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27:05