The Rest is Lean

Alan Lothian, John Dee, Russell Watkins

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!!

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S5 · E2
Sunday · 31 min
Lean v Elon Musk, Smugglers and "The Idiot Index"
Send us Fan Mail 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
S5 · E1
September 6 · 30 min
5S, 6S or 7S? 7 or 8 Wastes? Find out what boils our p!$$
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
S4 · E12
August 23 · 32 min
Which Gemba would you like to go to? Lean Leadership & Analogies in Premier League Football
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
S4 · E11
August 9 · 42 min
The Rest is Lean Podcast LIVE Edition at Subcon 2026 aka Why does lean fail & how to avoid it
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.
S4 · E10
July 26 · 30 min
The TRIL Leadership Interview Series Part 2 - Mark Hemming
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
S4 · E9
July 12 · 31 min
The TRIL Leadership Interview Series Part 1 - Mark Hemming
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
S4 · E8
June 29 · 19 min
Our Visit to SubCon 2026 aka The Take That Man
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
S4 · E7
June 14 · 29 min
Questions to ask to get a feel for a business aka What problem are you trying to solve?
Send us Fan Mail Back to our usual episodes and this one will really help you really get under the skin of a company in a relatively short space of time. So if you're new to a business, or a lean change agent then this episode is for you! Russell shares his recent trip to the Northern Ireland Lean Cluster including some fantastic companies embracing the '2 Second Lean Movement' John shares his problem solving exploits on his decking (or not!) Team #TRIL also get to grips with those thinking they can 'Hack' Lean. Can you really?? 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
S4 · E6
May 31 · 31 min
The TRIL Leadership Interview Series - Delphine Fillot
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 Delphine Fillot, Group SVP Quality & Customer Excellence at Forvia Forvia is a global automotive component manufacturer created by combining the expertise of 2 other automotive manufacturing powerhouses, Faurecia and HELLA Delphine's experience as a lean leader in global industrial and technology groups spans almost 30 years. From days as a process engineer to awarding-winning leader, Delphine lives Lean - both tactically and strategically - every day. Her passion for excellence, and engagement of people, is truly energising Having known each other for over 25 years since their time at Converteam (now GE Vernova) both Alan & Delphine share their experiences, and take a deep-dive into Delphine's career, her learning and development, and why Lean is so important to her and the teams she works with A fireside chat well worth listening to! 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
S4 · E5
May 17 · 32 min
Sustaining Lean Transformation aka How Long Do You Persevere?
Send us Fan Mail Engaging people and gaining 'Buy-in' from employees. That's the main topic of this episode of The Rest Is Lean Podcast Join John, Russell & Alan for our usual 30minute ramble as we discuss our Lean experiences. Discussions include: Are there really that many 'negative' employees when it comes to Lean Transformation? Pros/Cons of including the most negative people in your improvement efforts. Unionised environments - Always include the Shop Steward? Finding the 'Well meant intent'. Perseverance - How long do you spend? Who to have in your cross-functional Lean Dream Team......and much more 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
S4 · E4
May 3 · 24 min
The TRIL Leadership Interview Series - Ian Mountain
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 Ian Mountain, Managing Director of Leafield Marine based in Wiltshire Leafield Marine is the World leader in the design, development and manufacture of valves and inflation systems for a wide range of inflatable structures including Life Rafts, Inflatable Boats, Marine Evacuation Systems and River Rafts We discuss Ian's background and passion for Lean, we learn more about the products, the people and the history of this fascinating business. Most importantly, understanding where they are on their improvement journey, and what's to come. Ian also opens up on his ongoing personal development, and provides great insight into his challenges and success as a leader of change 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
S4 · E3
April 19 · 31 min
Does removing variation inhibit innovation? aka The Normalisation of Deviation.
Send us Fan Mail This episode sees the #TRIL Team ramble and rummage through how lean tools and techniques, flow, and human behaviour are involved/applied to the experience of driving vehicles Russell talks about his recent speeding exploits and how his A3 summary helped him improve his driving John shares his Honda view on the Toyota approach to standards and 5S. Alan discusses flow and a recent post by Cambridge Mathematics Professor, Hannah Fry, on the topic of "Ghost Jams". From 5S to Standard Work to Visual Management to Poka-Yoke, this episode takes a full U-Turn in a jam-packed 30 minutes. 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
S4 · E2
April 5 · 32 min
Thank you for Stopping the Line aka John's 'Cuddly' Trip to Toyota Deeside
Send us Fan Mail The #TRIL Team ramble through the 2nd podcast of series 4 where the trio of John, Russell and Alan share their recent exploits and experiences The guys talk about their recent visit to Leafield Marine where MD (and good friend of the team) Ian Mountain, took the time out to walk us around his factory and even allowed us to record a future leadership episode with him! (Watch this space) John also shares a fascinating visit to Toyota Deeside Engine Facility where he joined a number of construction industry delegates and a visit of learning and understanding, in particular, the attitude to stopping production by operatives when a problem is encountered. Also the effective problem solving process that follows by those on the line and the group leaders. You may well be surprised with what you hear so stay tuned Alan also opens his 'Kimono' sharing his early leadership challenges when he embarked on trying to develop this 'attitude' in his plant manager role at Eaton 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
S4 · E1
March 22 · 30 min
Lean Browsers & Ugly Babies aka David's Sandwich
Send us Fan Mail Our very own Lean Leaders of Russell, John and Alan take to the floor once again in their 4th series of The Rest is Lean Podcast In this episode, Team #TRIL kick off the series with a rather detailed email from one of their long time followers. This develops into the usual rambling on multiple experiences of providing clients with feedback on how their businesses are running and where to focus your improvement efforts. It's not always as shiny and bright as you may think! What's different if the client asks you to come in as opposed to your customer asking you to go into one of their suppliers? What should you be mindful of? How to prepare for the feedback. What's their 'honesty' setting? 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
S3 · E12
March 8 · 37 min
The TRIL Leadership Interview Series - Astrid Mozes
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Alan welcomes his friend and work colleague from days gone by, Astrid Mozes. With decades of leadership experience within global manufacturing organisations such as Eaton and Danfoss, having held positions as CTO, VP, SVP and President, Astrid is now Chair of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota As she takes us through her background and passion for manufacturing and technology, Astrid shares why she enjoys her work, the people she has learned from, and how she maintains her energy for moving businesses forward 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
S3 · E11
February 22 · 31 min
How Lean Helps in Real Life aka The Puppet Show Looks Different but the Strings are the Same!
Send us Fan Mail Another down to earth episode of #TheRestIsLean Podcast with Team TRIL (Russell, John and Alan). In this episode, find out: - How John's 'Soul Searching' went - The end result of Russell's recent training in Alchemy! - Tips on how to get the best out of your plant tours and visits - What examples the trio can share in terms of how lean principles have helped them personally, outside of the workplace. (some fascinating personal examples of 5S, Visual Management, TPM and Problem Solving which you should not miss!) 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
S3 · E10
February 8 · 32 min
Who's your Phone-A-Friend Al? aka The Problem, The Difficulty!
Send us Fan Mail The 'Leaders of Lean' in the form of John, Russell, and Alan embark on another ramble of lean proportions In this jam-packed episode, Team #TRIL discuss topics such as: - Russell's start-up escapades - John's Coat of Arms and Alchemy links - Alan's appearance in the 'Hot Seat' of a well known TV show #wwtbam - Artificial Intelligence; is one better than the others? What should we be wary of? - Practical Problem Solving; real life examples and the importance of effective problem definition 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
S3 · E9
January 25 · 41 min
The TRIL Leadership Interview Series - Rob Marchant
Send us Fan Mail The Rest is Lean (#TRIL) Podcast 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 In this episode, Alan welcomes Rob Marchant, Chairman & Founder of The MarchantCain Group. (www.marchantcain.com) Specialist designers, makers and builders of complex mechatronic components that enhance the aesthetic form and function of our customers’ vehicles in a multitude of industries. 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
S3 · E8
January 11 · 32 min
I'll Stop When You Squeak! aka What Happens if We Don't Improve?
Send us Fan Mail Another exciting episode from the guys at TRIL In addition to the usual banter from the three lean musketeers, and the usual 'Quote of the Week' segment, find out why: - Russell enjoyed his books and recent Taphouse visits - John is getting so excited about his electric tricycle - Alan is talking about his exploits in Silicon Spa! They also take some of subscriber questions and offer their thoughts. 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
S3 · E7
Dec 28, 2025 · 34 min
Leadership, Listening and Gemba aka Looking Through a Different Lens
Send us Fan Mail The #TRIL Team get together once again to share their experiences through their decades in Lean Transformation, Leadership and Continuous Improvement endeavours. In this episode learn about: - Traits of a good leader such as active listening - The Importance of Gemba - Football Mascots - Spying in changing rooms (not!) - Clarity & Conciseness - Why are John's jacket pockets so big?! 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

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