Ep 137 Jared Thatcher (and the Global Lean Summit)
Key Takeaways
Jared Thatcher has 20+ years of lean experience across manufacturing, consulting, and government sectors
The Global Lean Summit evolved from virtual events during COVID to an international in-person conference
This year's summit (Sept 23-25, 2023) features speakers from global companies, a Toyota plant tour, and follow-up support
The summit aims to provide a comprehensive learning experience on lean principles and implementation
Topics
Jared's Lean Journey
Started in manufacturing, noticing inefficiencies and developing improvements
MBA introduced formal lean concepts, aligning with his natural problem-solving approach
Worked at Daimler Trucks NA, saving millions through continuous cost improvement
Transitioned to office lean implementation, seeing dramatic efficiency gains
Moved to consulting, then to Alaska Airlines, where he solved long-standing data issues
Virtual Kaizen Events
COVID-19 forced a transition to virtual events
Discovered that virtual process mapping was more efficient than traditional methods
Benefits: No rework, better collaboration, increased participation from introverts
Hybrid approach: Using digital tools even in in-person settings
Global Lean Summit Evolution
Started as a virtual event during the COVID lockdowns to help small businesses
Grew from 21 attendees in the first year to nearly 90 at the 2022 in-person event
The 2025 event is partnered with Indiana University, attracting an international audience
Features: Toyota plant tour, speakers from GE Aerospace, and City Furniture
Focuses on five key elements: strategy deployment, people development, workflow optimization, problem-solving, and daily management
Summit Structure and Benefits
Day 1: Principles of successful lean organizations
Day 2: Toyota plant tour and practical application workshop
Day 3: Developing individual lean management roadmaps
Post-summit: 30, 60, 90-day virtual follow-ups for accountability and support
Additional offering: Japan Kaizen Learning Mission in November
Next Steps
Visit www.globalleansummit.com for more information and registration
Connect with Jared Thatcher on LinkedIn for updates
Consider attending the Global Lean Summit (Sept 23-25, 2023) or Japan Learning Mission (November 2023)
Early bird pricing for the summit ends August 15, 2023
About Jared!
With over 10 years of experience in lean process improvement, project management, change management, business analysis, leadership, and training, Jared is a passionate and results-oriented CPI Program Manager at Port of Seattle, where he engages in a lean transformation of the airport operations and other processes throughout the Port. He teaches, trains, and mentors others in continuous process improvement, and developed a lean network of other Port authorities and government agencies to share best practices, success stories, and group problem solving.
He is also the host of the Virtual Lean Summit and the author of Parenting the Lean Way, a book that applies the proven business philosophy of lean to the family. Jared is a Lean Bronze Certified professional, a Project Management Professional, a Certified Scrum Master, and a PROSCI Certified Change Manager,