Paul Akers

I applied it to my travel.

I applied it to everything I do.

First of all, in my opinion, you know, the leader should not really have an office.

They should always be on the Gemba.

And why?

Because the Gemba, the place where the work is being done, that's where the money is being made.

That's where the value is being added for the customer.

Let's take your aggregate business.

The customer doesn't want to pay for some nice cushy office with air conditioning and pictures and his golf clubs in the corner and all that.

That's not what the customer wants.

The customer wants the aggregate on time at a reasonable price when they need it and the amount they need it and the quality they need it.

That's what they want.

So all the value is added out on the floor, out on the Gemba.

The president of the company should be on the Gemba.

And what is the purpose?

To help the people solve problems.

So when I go on the Gemba, the very first thing I'm doing most of the time, to be honest with you, is praising everyone and thanking everyone for the great work.

Wow, that's amazing, Lucas.

Wow.

Yuri, that's unbelievable.