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Problem solving the challenge of finding Lean strength and depth in your organisation. What traits should we be looking for and what should set the alarm bells? Does LinkedIn and Zoom help or hinder in making the right decision?

These are some of the questions we take from our subscribers and followers. In this episode we try to tackle these and ask a few more:

Develop from within or recruit?
What balance is to be made of theory v application?
People centric or shiny new machines
How should we setup the final interview?
What questions should we ask to assess their suitability?

Plus also find out why since John decided he was going to retire, he's become the busiest he's ever been!!

Our channel aims to explore the world of leadership, lean manufacturing, operational excellence and continuous improvement, by sharing our decades of experience in this field. Trained by Japanese Master Engineers from Toyota (2nd Generation Ohno trained) and Honda, we want to share our knowledge, experience and failures so you don't have to!
If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested.

We also have a Leadership Interview Series which involves members of Team TRIL engaging with global lean leaders who are willing to share their experiences and challenges.

Whether you’re a business leader, lean practitioner, or simply curious about what makes organisations thrive, #TRIL delivers stories and lessons that inspire action.

Tune in and discover why, when it comes to leadership and lean, the rest is just noise.

Remember that we are also available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms!
You can even email us at therestislean@gmail.com

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3ABEL. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

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Elon Musk and Drug Smugglers. Can we learn from those we may not like? Are our biases meaning that we are missing a good opportunity to learn?

The new series of The Rest is Lean Podcast gets underway, full of interesting discussion and plenty of laughs

Following on from Alan's venting, the Team discuss how lean learning can come from those who are not necessarily the most well-liked of people

• Does Elon Musk have a 'Lean' mindset?
• How do drug smugglers use lean concepts for their ill-gotten gains?
• What is the 'Idiot Index'?

This leads onto the guys sharing some of their memories with their Japanese Mentors from Toyota and Honda and how the learning they received was delivered, would work with today's generation

Our channel aims to explore the world of leadership, lean manufacturing, operational excellence and continuous improvement, by sharing our decades of experience in this field. Trained by Japanese Master Engineers from Toyota (2nd Generation Ohno trained) and Honda, we want to share our knowledge, experience and failures so you don't have to!

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested

We also have a Leadership Interview Series which involves members of Team TRIL engaging with global lean leaders who are willing to share their experiences and challenges

Whether you’re a business leader, lean practitioner, or simply curious about what makes organisations thrive, #TRIL delivers stories and lessons that inspire action

Tune in and discover why, when it comes to leadership and lean, the rest is just noise

Remember that we are also available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms!

You can even email us at therestislean@gmail.com

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

Send us Fan Mail

Do you really know the real well-meant intent of the Lean Tools / Techniques of 5S and 7 Wastes? Maybe you've heard 6S (or even 7S) and 8 Wastes for example and then wondered why? If so, this is the podcast episode for you!

S5 P1 The new series of The Rest is Lean Podcast gets underway, full of interesting discussion and plenty of laughs

This episode provides Alan with some opportunity to vent his frustrations on recent social media posts he's seen regarding topics such as 5S Waste Elimination. John and Russell support him in bringing down his blood pressure!

Also on the show, find out about Russell's washboard abs, and why John would bite his lip!

Our channel aims to explore the world of leadership, lean manufacturing, operational excellence and continuous improvement, by sharing our decades of experience in this field. Trained by Japanese Master Engineers from Toyota (2nd Generation Ohno trained) and Honda, we want to share our knowledge, experience and failures so you don't have to!

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested.

We also have a Leadership Interview Series which involves members of Team TRIL engaging with global lean leaders who are willing to share their experiences and challenges.

Whether you’re a business leader, lean practitioner, or simply curious about what makes organisations thrive, #TRIL delivers stories and lessons that inspire action.

Tune in and discover why, when it comes to leadership and lean, the rest is just noise.

Remember that we are also available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms!
You can even email us at therestislean@gmail.com

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

Send us Fan Mail

Can Lean tools & techniques be applied successfully in all walks of life? Which Gemba would you like to visit to develop your knowledge and experience? From design offices to premier league football, Team TRIL discuss and debate if lean thinking is transferrable, and if so, what analogies can we draw from typical lean manufacturing?

S4 P12 Our final podcast of this series is full of interesting discussion and plenty of laughs

As well as Lean Leadership in elite sports such as football and rugby, find out how John got on with his problem solving activity and why fresh eyes is so important. Russell's sharing of knowledge around Atul Gawande and his Checklist Manifesto. Even what happened to Alan's Amazon delivery!!

Our channel aims to explore the world of leadership, lean manufacturing, operational excellence and continuous improvement, by sharing our decades of experience in this field. Trained by Japanese Master Engineers from Toyota (2nd Generation Ohno trained) and Honda, we want to share our knowledge, experience and failures so you don't have to!

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested

We are available on all your favourite streaming platforms so it’s easy to get your lean fix!

You can even email us at therestislean@gmail.com

We also have a Leadership Interview Series which involves members of Team TRIL engaging with global lean leaders who are willing to share their experiences and challenges

Whether you’re a business leader, lean practitioner, or simply curious about what makes organisations thrive, #TRIL delivers stories and lessons that inspire action.
Tune in and discover why, when it comes to leadership and lean, the rest is just noise

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

Send us Fan Mail

Suffering with long lead times, poor productivity, quality, or delivery performance? Struggling to make your improvement efforts stick?

Learn from those with over nearly 30 years experience in the field. Japanese trained from Toyota & Honda

#TheRestIsLean goes live with our annual pilgrimage to the NEC for #SUBCON 2026. The second of 2 episodes recorded at the 2-day event which showcases some of the best products and companies that support global manufacturing

This episode involves our live interactive podcast event on the topic of "Why Lean Fails and How to Avoid It."

A fantastic audience as ever for this one and it never failed to disappoint

#TeamTRIL get up to their usual exploits of sharing their views, experiences, and their failures that have allowed them to develop and learn through their 25+ year careers

Most importantly they share some pointers on where to start on your journey, and what's most important to have in place before you start! Apologies for some sound quality, mainly attributable to Alan's microphone wandering!!

Big thanks to Sam Wibrew and Mark Allen Group for allowing us to attend another great show, and for allowing #TeamTRIL to be part of it once again

Our channel aims to explore the world of lean manufacturing, operational excellence and continuous improvement, by sharing our decades of experience in this field. Trained by Japanese Master Engineers from Toyota (2nd Generation Ohno trained) and Honda, we want to share our knowledge, experience and failures so you don't have to!

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested

Remember also that we are now available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms

We also have a Leadership Interview Series which involves members of Team TRIL engaging with global lean leaders who are willing to share their experiences and challenges.

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

Remember that if you want to get involved with your questions, comments, and tips of your own then don't forget to email the podcast at therestislean@gmail.com or drop us a comment below.

Send us Fan Mail

The Rest is Lean (#TRIL) Leadership Series of Podcasts brings you powerful conversations with professionals from across the globe, sharing real-world experiences in lean manufacturing and leadership

Each episode dives into the principles, challenges, and successes that shape modern organisations—told by those who live them every day

This episode welcomes Mark Hemming. Mark is a transformational business leader who has led major operations at Amazon, Eurocell, and HelloFresh, delivering large-scale growth, innovation and operational excellence. Having managed businesses of significant scale across multiple countries, he now advises organisations through Hemming Advisory, helping leaders navigate growth, complexity and change with a strong focus on people-centred leadership

Russel takes charge for this 2-part Podcast with part two covering a lot of ground.

Conversations include the importance of purpose, people, and process. Find out what Mark thinks is his 'Superpower', and his future book 'The Tapestry of Leadership'

From industry veterans to innovative thinkers, our guests reveal practical insights, cultural shifts, and leadership strategies that drive transformation

Whether you’re a business leader, lean practitioner, or simply curious about what makes organisations thrive, #TRIL delivers stories and lessons that inspire action.
Tune in and discover why, when it comes to leadership and lean, the rest is just noise

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested

Remember that we are also available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms!
You can even email us at therestislean@gmail.com

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

Send us Fan Mail

The Rest is Lean (#TRIL) Leadership Series of Podcasts brings you powerful conversations with professionals from across the globe, sharing real-world experiences in lean manufacturing and leadership

Each episode dives into the principles, challenges, and successes that shape modern organisations—told by those who live them every day

This episode welcomes Mark Hemming. Mark is a transformational business leader who has led major operations at Amazon, Eurocell, and HelloFresh, delivering large-scale growth, innovation and operational excellence. Having managed businesses of significant scale across multiple countries, he now advises organisations through Hemming Advisory, helping leaders navigate growth, complexity and change with a strong focus on people-centred leadership

Russel takes charge for this 2-part Podcast with part one covering a lot of ground.
Conversations include old school book-throwing, the importance of honesty and integrity with your employees, and how tiring leadership can be!

From industry veterans to innovative thinkers, our guests reveal practical insights, cultural shifts, and leadership strategies that drive transformation

Whether you’re a business leader, lean practitioner, or simply curious about what makes organisations thrive, #TRIL delivers stories and lessons that inspire action.
Tune in and discover why, when it comes to leadership and lean, the rest is just noise

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested

Remember that we are also available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms!
You can even email us at therestislean@gmail.com

The #TRIL Team are:
John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk

Send us Fan Mail

Global Manufacturing Expertise & The take that Man. Our annual pilgrimage to the NEC for SUBCON 2026. One of 2 episodes recorded at the 2-day show which showcases some of the best products and companies that support global manufacturing

This episode involves a whistle-stop tour of both Subcon2026 and SmartManufacturingWeek where TeamTRIL meet some fantastic company owners and their employees, along with some fellow panel members including:

Sophie Hall - Warren Services
Ian Joliffe - SMMT (Society Motor Manufacturers & Traders) Industry Forum
Taye Reid - The Levyne Group
Mathieu Phejar - The Tailored Growth

Big thanks to Sam Wibrew & Phoebe Hendry of Mark Allen Group for allowing us to attend for another great show, and for allowing TeamTRIL to be part of it once again

If you're enjoying what we do and want to keep up to speed with the latest episodes, then don't forget to subscribe, click the bell notification icon, and share with anyone else you know who may be interested.
Remember also that we are now available on all good (and some not so good) streaming platforms!

The #TRIL Team are:

John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net
Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk
Russell Watkins. Sempai Ltd. www.sempai.co.uk