Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement

Five NUMMI Tour Lessons That Still Define Lean Thinking

17 Dec 2025

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The blog postIn this episode, Mark reflects on a visit he made twenty years ago to the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California — the Toyota-GM joint venture that became legendary in Lean circles. What stayed with him wasn’t flashy tools or so-called Lean perfection, but a series of small, human moments that revealed how Lean actually works as a management system.Through six short stories — a broken escalator, aluminum foil, an explanatory safety sign, a pull-based gift shop, imperfect 5S, and visible audit boards — Mark explores the deeper principles behind Lean thinking: asking “why” before spending money, respecting people enough to explain decisions, encouraging small frontline ideas, and reinforcing standards through daily leadership behavior. Long before the term was popular, NUMMI demonstrated psychological safety in action.The episode also contrasts NUMMI’s management system with what came after, when the same building became Tesla’s first factory — underscoring a central lesson: buildings and technology don’t create quality. Culture does. These NUMMI lessons remain just as relevant today for leaders trying to build systems that support learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.Explore the original NUMMI Tour Tales:NUMMI Tour Tale #1: Why Fix the Escalator?NUMMI Tour Tale #2: The Power of Reynolds WrapNUMMI Tour Tale #3: The Power of WhyNUMMI Tour Tale #4: The Pull Gift ShopNUMMI Tour Tale #5: Nobody Is PerfectNUMMI Tour Tales #6: “You Get What You Inspect”

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13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

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Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement

Five NUMMI Tour Lessons That Still Define Lean Thinking

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

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