Shingo Principles Podcast

What helps some organizations consistently outperform others?
In this episode of the Shingo Principles Podcast, Steve Spear, author of Wiring the Winning Organization, explores how leaders can build organizations that solve problems faster, learn continuously, and better use the intelligence of their people.
Spear explains how shifting problem solving closer to the point of work can reduce delays, improve collaboration, and strengthen organizational performance. He also introduces the “leader’s journey”—the idea that leaders must go see the work firsthand, understand the barriers people face, and create better conditions for success.
Through practical examples, the conversation challenges leaders to rethink their role: not as the people who solve every problem, but as the people who create systems that help others see, understand, and solve problems effectively.
Listen to discover how better organizational “wiring” can unlock learning, improve problem solving, and help your organization move closer to what is possible.
To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org.

What does it take to create lasting improvement—not just better numbers? In this episode, Danilo Rodriguez Santos, maintenance leader at Vale, shares how the company’s railway maintenance operation in São Luís, Brazil, used the Shingo Model to connect systems, leadership, and people on its journey to receiving Shingo Silver in 2025.
 
Danilo explores how active listening, leadership humility, direct observation, and a focus on behaviors helped engage employees and build a culture capable of sustaining results. He also shares practical insights into developing systems, using KPIs and KBIs, and creating an environment where people feel empowered to improve every day.

For more information, please visit https://shingo.org.

What does it really mean to respect every individual—and how can leaders turn that principle into everyday practice? In this episode, Josh McEwan, manufacturing research and development director at O.C. Tanner, shares lessons from the organization’s transformation and his own leadership journey.
Josh explains how listening to employees, removing obstacles, welcoming diverse perspectives, and giving people ownership can strengthen trust, collaboration, and results. Through candid stories of successes and mistakes, he shows why respectful leadership requires humility, honest feedback, and a genuine commitment to understanding the experiences of others.
To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org.

In this Back to Basics episode, Shaun Barker welcomes Virginia Cosgriff, Operational Excellence Director at McGough, for a conversation about transformation, leadership, and continuous improvement across industries.

Virginia began her career in healthcare before bringing her industrial engineering expertise to construction. Along the way, she's been "sneakily" applying the Shingo Model to strengthen culture and improve performance. Now, she's helping guide McGough on its formal Shingo Challenge journey.

Discover how timeless principles can create lasting results—whether you're caring for patients, building hospital wings, or leading organizational transformation.
To learn more, please visit https://shingo.org.

Unlock the power of leadership style in shaping the culture and performance of your organization. In this episode, we sit down with Alisha Garrett, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer at Utah Transit Authority, to explore how a leader’s approach influences their teams, their systems, and the overall organizational environment.

Alisha shares practical insights from her executive experience—highlighting the connection between leadership behaviors, strategic alignment, and the cultural outcomes that follow. Whether you're a seasoned leader or developing your leadership journey, this conversation offers valuable takeaways you can apply today.

🎧 Listen now and elevate your leadership impact.
To learn more about the Shingo Model, please visit https://shingo.org.