Episode page with video and more
In Episode 43 of the “Lean Whiskey” podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh and Mark Graban begin by talking about each of our interviews regarding the new book by Steve Spear and Gene Kim, Wiring the Winning Organization.
Mark interviewed Steve and Gene for the Lean Blog Interviews podcast, and Jamie interviewed Steve for a forthcoming episode of the People Solve Problems podcast. We then shifted our attention to celebrating 100 years of Suntory Distilling by each pouring different expressions from the Japanese side of the company, Hibiki and Yamazaki. We also discussed the Jim Beam side, its progression and integration into the Suntory ownership.
We eventually jumped into our primary In the News segment discussing a detailed investigative journalism report from Reuters on the objectively poor safety record at SpaceX. The data is compelling, from a fatality to a coma, and eight amputations. But the safety rate is six times the industry average, coming in at 4.8 per 100 workers. Yes, space travel and doing anything breakthrough is inherently dangerous, but there's two arguments with this. First, the injuries are things like falling out of trucks and not related to launching a rocket. Second, there are numerous examples of doing inherently dangerous work with a great safety record. Alcoa, under the leadership of Paul O'Neill, is a great example of this, where not only is the work done safely, but with increasing profits along the way.
We explore the importance of leadership — through policy to system to culture — in the outcomes of safety. Elon Musk, as the leader of SpaceX, has signaled in many ways that safety is secondary. This includes a distaste for safety yellow on aesthetic grounds to statements that workers are responsible for protecting themselves. Both SpaceX and Tesla have a tendency to withhold reporting required data to OSHA, which might not be visible to employees, but it likely is to management. We make clear that safety practice and culture is the responsibility of management.
We wrap up this episode sharing fun facts about our hometowns, wishing everyone a happy holidays, and a final cheers to 2023!
Links From the Show:Please review us and follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!
Crossover Episode: Just-in-Time Cafe and Lean Whiskey: Flinchbaugh, Graban, Swan, O'Rourke
New Year’s Resolutions, But not Dry January; Boeing Makes One
Reflecting on the GE Lean Mindset Event, Including Ford, Uber, and PG&E
Should Lean be Forced? Running & Evaluating Experiments with the Podcast and Beyond, Inexpensive Sip
If Burbn Didn’t Pivot to Instagram, We Might Not Have Threads
Does Starbucks’ CEO Serving Coffee and Uber’s CEO Driving Passengers Do Any Good? Tasting Sourced Whiskeys
Toasting the U.S. Micro Whiskey of the Year (Glenns Creek OCD #5), and the Need to Recommit to Patient Safety
Starbucks’ Gemba, Toyota’s Tour, Product Innovation & Lean Process Improvements
Jamie Flinchbaugh & Chris Kauzmann on Design Thinking’s Relationship to Lean Thinking
Going to ”Gemba” at Scotch Whisky Distilleries; Work Retreats
Crazy Ideas, From Shipping Flowers to Crab Whiskey
On the Road Again and In Person for the First Time
Employee Engagement Beyond Buying Them Pizza (or Bourbon)
End a Year, End a Bottle; Start a Year, Start a Bottle
Celebrating 30 Episodes, Writing Books, and Great Whiskey
Yellow Cards, Coffee Cocktails, and a Smashed Barrel
Mistakes Make us Better (and Sometimes Make Whiskey Necessary?)
Lean Coffee: Pour Over Edition With Inventory / Supply Chain Talk
The Accidental St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, and Discussing New CEOs Carol Tomé, Rosalind Brewer, and Jane Fraser
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
HCI Leadership Revolution
Human Capital Leadership
The Power of Music Thinking
BusinessWISE
Business Wars