Continuous Improvement Lean Collaborative

Registration is Now Open for the 2023 CILC Lean Systems Summit
2023-08-10 - 2023-08-11 | Holiday Inn By The Bay (Portland, ME), 55 Spring St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Registration is now open for the 2023 CILC Lean Systems Summit
August 10th & 11th, 2023 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay, 88 Spring St, Portland Me, 04101.
To access details of this year’s keynotes and sessions and the registration link click here.
Or use the Website link at the bottom.

Hi, CILC Lean Systems Summit champion,
2023-10-03 08:00 - 2023-10-04 17:00 (America/New_York)
Here’s an opportunity to learn about the upcoming GBMP October 3-4 2023 Northeast Lean Conference!

https://www.gbmp.org/ne-lean-conference
The Northeast Lean Conference was created by GBMP to provide information and inspiration to Lean practitioners – from those just starting out to seasoned Lean leaders from the manufacturing, healthcare, service and other vital industry sectors. ​The practical learning format features exceptional keynote and breakout presentations, interdepartmental panels, peer-to-peer discussions, hands-on simulations, interactive learning and sharing, and unlimited networking opportunities. Meet more than 500 passionate Lean, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement professionals just like you. Subscribe for email updates to get all the event news as it breaks here! Learn about this year’s conference theme below.

About this year’s theme: “It’s About Time”

​“We don’t have time for continuous improvement.” Time has long been a reason given for foregoing process improvement, but lately, it’s even more prevalent. Is this because we are too busy expediting material or searching for someone to run a machine or help a patient? Or, maybe our race to re-supply pent-up demand from the pandemic is the problem; or the increase in tactical meetings to locate local sources of supply for material no longer available from overseas manufacturers. As the saying goes, “We’re too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp,” except now there are far more alligators. So, how can we reclaim this valuable lost time? With a singular source of inexhaustible energy: employee creativity. According to Shigeo Shingo, unlocking that creativity requires just two ingredients: methods and motivation. These will be the focus of our 19th Annual Northeast L.E.A.N. Conference. Our theme, It’s About Time, has a double meaning:

First, the correct use of Lean methods – from 5S to SMED to Standardized Work – absolutely reclaims and repurposes wasted time for the betterment of customers, employees, and the company. Provide employees with these methods and watch the creativity surge.
Second, there has never been a better time than today when so many organizations regardless of industry share a common motivation: How to satisfy increased customer demand in the face of scarce resources? Doesn’t that sound like Lean? It’s about time for management to make a visible commitment to continuous improvement.

Now is the time for every organization to invest in the benefits of Lean transformation. GBMP’s 2023 Northeast Lean Conference will bring together thought leaders and experienced Lean practitioners to give you and your team the knowledge and inspiration to accelerate your ROI on all of your continuous improvement efforts. Join us.

* Read more about Membership in GBMP here. Save on conference registration and enjoy the benefits of membership in our Lean Community all year long.
** For information about our group discount (for groups of 5 or more), email LGlikes@gbmp.org.
^ Can’t join us in person? Stream the event LIVE through Whova on your mobile device or desktop.

Get back to basics with AME
2024-03-06 10:00 - 2024-03-27 11:30 | Virtual–Register at the Website link below.
Refresh your knowledge or lay the foundation for your lean journey at the virtual AME Back to Basics Lean Summit. Join us March 6, 13, 20, and 27 from wherever you access the internet. Thought leaders and practitioners will share expert knowledge on the fundamental lean tools and concepts that you need to know. Participate in presentations and tours designed to help you with the essential building blocks for a lean transformation.

An Essential Summit Covering All the Essential Topics
Whether you’re taking your first steps, seeking new perspectives on foundational topics, or looking to refresh your knowledge, the AME Back to Basics Lean Summit will lay the groundwork for your lean journey. You’ll hear directly from industry-leading voices on topics around the following themes:
March 6 – Culture
March 13 – Operational excellence
March 20 – Leadership
March 27 – Basic tools
A Virtual Summit to Fit Your Schedule
The AME Back to Basics Lean Summit will be presented virtually on four Wednesdays in March. Join us March 6, 13, 20, and 27 from wherever you access the internet via AME’s Zoom platform and hear foundational examples and information from lean leaders from around the globe. Each session will take place from 10 – 11:30 a.m. central, allowing you to balance your professional responsibilities and your professional development needs. You’ll hear basic lean concepts and come away with actionable takeaways.
Free Registration for AME Members
AME members must complete the free summit registration process to receive session login details and other important information.
Not yet an AME member? Join our thriving community of lean, continuous improvement practitioners today to gain access to the AME Back to Basics Lean Summit and all of our membership benefits. You may also register for the AME Back to Basics Lean Summit for $150.
Register now

Using AI to Streamline Your CI/Lean Thinking
2024-03-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Video recorded–use link below
The words “artificial intelligence” and “AI” seem to be in everyone’s vocabulary these days and it can mean a lot of different things to many different people. If you’re involved with continuous improvement or if you simply want to learn more about AI, this special session is for you!
During this one-hour session, John Paul O’Connor will provide answers to questions such as:

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
What are some common AI platforms?
How can AI be used with Lean initiatives?
What are some pros and cons of AI?
And many others.

Come prepared to learn how to apply CI/Lean thinking with AI to get better, faster, more responsive, engaging, and streamlined results.
See the recorded video at this link: https://youtu.be/d5Un6TGdOWc

John Paul O’Connor
JP O’Connor’s purpose is to understand the “why” behind the “what”. He advises boards and executive teams throughout the banking industry regarding compensation and performance-based decisions. He has built a reputation as a trusted advisor, leveraging his expertise to provide strategic guidance and insights that drive meaningful impact on organizational performance and employee engagement/retention.

Leading Through Change: The Role of Respect for People
2025-05-06 11:30 - 12:30 | Video recorded–use link below
Break through cultural friction, strengthen execution, and build a resilient,
engaged workforce—at scale.
If you’re working to sustain Lean, improve operational consistency, or strengthen
workplace dynamics but keep hitting resistance, misalignment, or communication
breakdowns, the Respect for People Roadmap is the results-driven framework you
need to systematically overcome cultural bottlenecks and drive lasting improvement.

Leading Through Change: The Role of Respect for People--A 12-Week Series
2025-08-05 12:30 - 2025-10-21 15:30 | Video recorded–use link below
Break through cultural friction, strengthen execution, and build a resilient,
engaged workforce—at scale.
If you’re working to sustain Lean, improve operational consistency, or strengthen
workplace dynamics but keep hitting resistance, misalignment, or communication
breakdowns, the Respect for People Roadmap is the results-driven framework you
need to systematically overcome cultural bottlenecks and drive lasting improvement.
A 12-week series of lessons.
https://cilcpath.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/RFP-Buyers-Guide-Jan-2025.pdf

Tom Lawless--Problem Solving: Towards Better Outcomes and Fewer Headaches
2025-12-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual–Register at the Website link below.
Problem Solving Session Outline:
1. What is Problem Solving – Problem solving is a structured approach to identifying the root
cause of an issue and developing effective, lasting solutions.
2. Why Use It – It helps teams move beyond temporary fixes by using data, collaboration, and
analysis to improve processes and prevent recurrence.
3. Brief Takeaway – With the right tools and mindset, anyone can solve problems more
efficiently and sustainably, leading to better outcomes and fewer recurring issues.
4. Who Should Attend – Anyone involved in daily operations, team leaders, frontline
employees, and decision-makers who want to improve results and reduce frustration.
Dr. Tom Lawless, PhD, MBB, CEPA, is a seasoned leader in Lean Six Sigma, change
management, and business transformation. As President of LeanTAC, he has trained
over 3,000 professionals and led initiatives that have saved companies more than $50
million in under two years. His expertise spans process improvement, leadership
development, and exit planning for business owners.
With a distinguished military background, Dr. Lawless served over 25 years in the U.S.
Navy and Army, retiring as a Major. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat
Action Badge for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he managed
logistics operations involving thousands of daily movements across Iraq.
An adjunct professor at Nebraska Methodist College, Dr. Lawless is also a frequent
speaker at global leadership events, including HaradaCon. His academic credentials
include a PhD and certifications as a Master Black Belt and Certified Exit Planning
Advisor.
Through LeanTAC, he continues to help organizations reduce waste, improve quality,
and prepare for successful business transitions.

Keep Your Gemba Walks Fresh & Meaningful – Engage Your People--Michael Bremmer
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Video recorded–use link below
Getting started with Gemba Walks isn’t hard, but maintaining their effectiveness, engagement, and impact is another story.
Too often, leaders fall into the trap of turning every walk into a “waste walk.” While identifying waste is valuable, that’s only a fraction of what’s possible. In this one-hour session, we’ll explore how to:
> Keep your walks engaging—for you and your team
> Make each walk a learning experience, not a routine
> Use walks to actually drive performance improvement
We’ll also touch on Virtual and Office Gemba Walks—how they differ from a physical walk.
Join us to re-energize your Gemba Walks and deepen their impact.
Take aways:
> Practical actions to improve your gemba walks
> Ideas on how to coach others in improving their walks
Who should attend:
> “C” level senior leaders
> Operations leaders
> Continuous improvement practitioners
Michael S. Bremer – Author & Improvement Leader
Michael Bremer is a semi-retired business executive and award-winning author, with a diverse career spanning productivity, information systems, financial leadership, and global consulting.
He began his corporate career at Beatrice Foods, serving as Director of Productivity and later Director of Information Systems. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Board Member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME). Michael spent 28 years as President of The Cumberland Group, a Chicago-based global consulting firm.
Michael was also involved in education and innovation, serving as adjunct faculty at the University of Chicago’s Graham School for 15 years, and mentoring manufacturing-focused startups at mHUB Chicago, an innovation incubator.
Awards & Recognition

2016 Shingo Prize for Research & Publication Award– How to Do a Gemba Walk
2019 Mac McCulloch Lifetime Achievement Award– Association for Manufacturing Excellence

Publications
Michael has authored five books on leadership and performance improvement, including:

How to Do a Gemba Walk(2025, Self-Published 4th Edition)
Learn to See the Invisible(2025, Productivity Press)

Current Activities
Michael continues to serve as volunteer Vice President for AME’s Excellence Award activities, coordinating over 50 volunteer assessors. Assessments focus on elevating organizational improvement maturity. He also moderates a bi-weekly discussion group on global issues.

The Ethical Use of Business Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
2026-03-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Video recorded–use link below
Speakers: Karen Waltemath Trautwein, Senior Strategic Benefits Advisor and David Ruger, Principal Consultant at Mercer, a world-class business consulting firm.
Learn how AI is being used and find out the pitfalls of being too familiar and not exercising boundaries.
Karen and David bring a wealth of knowledge and research on practices with everyday usage and how AI is considered the 5th Industrial Revolution.
Video is available at the link below.

Lean Transformations: A Strategy for Managing Change--Dr. Darlene Dumont
2026-05-12 11:00 - 12:00
Special CILC Session
Lean Transformations: A Strategy for Managing Change–Dr. Darlene Dumont
Many Lean transformations stall not because the tools fail, but because the people side of change is underestimated.
In this special session for the Continuous Improvement Lean Collaborative (CILC) community, Dr. Darlene Dumont shares one of her most requested topics: how to intentionally design and lead the change management side of a Lean transformation.
Drawing on organizational design principles, Lean problem-solving, and decades of hands-on transformation work, this session will explore how successful Lean journeys balance the technical system (process, tools, project management) with the human system (mindsets, behaviors, communication, and capability building).
Participants will learn:
• Why Lean transformations are fundamentally culture and behavior shifts, not implementation projects
• How to align purpose, process, people, and structures throughout the transformation journey
• What leaders must do before, during, and after change to build trust and sustain momentum
• How communication plans, training strategies, and management systems reinforce Lean thinking
• Common pitfalls that derail transformations and how to avoid them
Dr. Darlene Dumont, Ph.D., LSSBB
President & CEO, A Better Culture (ABC), LLC
Dr. Darlene Dumont is a recognized Lean transformation leader, executive advisor, and change management expert with more than 30 years of experience guiding organizations through complex, people-centered change. She has led and supported transformations across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, public service, insurance, aerospace, academia, and government.
This event is no cost. Recorded video of the session is at the URL below.

2027 Lean Systems Summit
2027-08-05 08:30 - 16:30 | Holiday Inn By The Bay (Portland, ME), 55 Spring St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
We hope that you will be able to join us for the 2027 Lean Systems Summit planned for the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland Maine August, 2027. (Dates to be determined.) We look forward to meeting in person when sponsorships and attendance are favorable to doing so.
In the meantime we are welcoming potential sponsors and presenters, including for our periodic on-line sessions.
Thanks.
