Episode
The CFO vs. Lean: The Fight That Gets Lean Leaders Fired
Mark DeLuzio, the Father of Lean Accounting, tells his experience and observations on how traditional cost accounting will derail a Lean Transformation. In many organizations, Lean transformations don’t fail on the shop floor—they fail in the finance office. In this episode, “The CFO vs. Lean: The Fight That Gets Lean Leaders Fired,” we examine a…
The Illusion of Business “Logic” – Brilliant at Home, Illogical at Work
In this episode, you’ll be able to take away why many “logical” workplace measures and incentives can drive behavior that conflicts with Lean principles, and why comparing work decisions to everyday home-life decisions can make Lean concepts easier to understand and teach. You will hear about various examples, including grocery shopping and volume discounts, which…
Book Review – Accidentally Aligned with Jason Neal
A shop floor comment stops everyone in their tracks: the work finally matches what the customer actually needs. That is the spark behind Accidentally Aligned, and it opens a bigger issue most leaders dodge: alignment does not come from posters, audits, or a new playbook. It comes from how leaders behave when the process is…
Are You Set Up to Win? – Find Out Here!
Mark DeLuzio discusses how Lean efforts fail when the Lean framework is not set up to win. Find out what he means by “framework” and whether your company is set up to win!
Stop Misusing the 2-Bin Kanban System
Mark DeLuzio discusses how the 2-Bin Kanban is meant to ensure the operator does not run out of parts. Find out why it should not be used to structure your primary Kanban system.
Let’s Make 2026 a Year of “Return to the Basics”
Mark DeLuzio discusses the confusion that exists in the Lean Community, and the Lean Consulting industry and academia are primarily to blame. Returning to Lean Basics and ignoring distractions like Kata, Gemba Walks, Lean certifications, and other consulting “innovations,” which are designed to sell books and consulting services.
Where Are The Engineers?
Mark DeLuzio discusses the absence of engineers from the Gemba in both manufacturing and design. He also discusses the sin of engineering, which he calls “Catalogue Engineers.”
Do You Really Understand the Toyota Production System House?
Mark DeLuzio discusses how the TPS House is not a set of tools, but a way of thinking, and that the tools of Lean support these principles. Starting with the tools before understanding the principles has proven to be the downfall of many companies starting a Lean transformation.
How Do You Price Your Product?
Mark DeLuzio discusses the dangers of cost-based pricing as well as the various issues encountered when doing so. He introduces the merits of market-based pricing instead.
Stop Measuring Productivity
Mark DeLuzio discusses the dangers of focusing on the lagging indicator of productivity and suggests we turn our attention towards improving our processes, which will, in turn, drive improved productivity.
Institutionalized Waste from Mura and Muri
Mark DeLuzio discusses the institutionalized waste of Mura and Muri, and if left unchallenged, it will derail a Lean transformation.
Lessons from the Danaher Business System Office III – Humble Errors: Mistakes We Made when Creating the Danaher Business System
Mark DeLuzio discusses the errors made when architecting the Danaher Business System and the things he would do differently today.