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Explore every episode of the podcast Uncommon Sense - Tools to Improve your Work Forever

Dive into the complete episode list for Uncommon Sense - Tools to Improve your Work Forever. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Creating Workplace Problem Solvers09 Sep 202600:15:00

If improvement is everyone's responsibility, why does problem solving so often end up belonging to a select few?

Consultant Niall Coney explores what stops people taking ownership of improvement, including barriers within systems, measures and management habits that often go unseen. Drawing on first-hand experience, he shares how organisations can create the conditions for problem solving to spread, so that spotting issues, taking action and driving change become part of everyday work.


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Quality Management Systems and Their Vital Role in Improvement12 Aug 202600:14:39

Improvement and quality often share the same goals, yet in many organisations they operate in separate worlds, with one focused on projects and change, and the other on control and compliance. But what if that divide is limiting your ability to embed lasting improvement?

Join Director Consultant Warren Knight as he explores the connection between Continuous Improvement and Quality Management, challenging common assumptions and revealing why a well-designed QMS may have far more to offer than many improvement practitioners realise.

More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Flowcharting: The Three Steps to Clarity and Value15 Jul 202600:18:21

How confident are you that your team sees the process the same way you do?

You might view flowcharting as a drawing exercise, but in reality, it’s a thinking tool. A framework for helping teams explore messy processes to reveal what people assume, what they disagree on, and what they’ve never properly surfaced.

Drawing on his own improvement project experience, Senior Consultant, Mark Allison talks through three levels of flowcharting that help improvement practitioners move from high-level clarity into the deeper issues sitting in handoffs, rework, and unclear ownership.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Why ADKAR Needs SOPK10 Jun 202600:14:45

ADKAR is familiar territory for many improvement practitioners. Awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, reinforcement… a neat pathway to guide people through change. But what happens when you’ve ticked every box and adoption still falls short?

Join Laurence Restarick as he invites you to step back, think system-wide, and see change through a different lens, as he reframes ADKAR from a checklist to a diagnostic tool. Because sometimes resistance has less to do with people themselves, and more to do with the system they’re working within.

 

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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


How to Start Your Improvement Habit13 May 202600:16:19

You understand the theory. You care about making things better. What comes next is finding a practical way to build improvement into the flow of your everyday work.

Join Consultant Alex Gumery as he shares what it takes to build your improvement habit, starting with how a willingness to notice work differently can unlock confidence and momentum. There’s thoughtful guidance on involving others, aligning improvement to what matters most, and shaping a routine that works in the reality of busy roles. 

An encouraging listen for anyone ready to turn everyday curiosity into lasting habits.

More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Toyota Kata and the Shift to Better Thinking08 Apr 202600:15:44

Why is it that some organisations default to firefighting while others think their way to breakthrough performance?  
 
Join us as Consultant Niall Coney introduces Toyota Kata; the patterns of behaviour that underpin real problem solving cultures. Habits so familiar they blend into the background, yet powerful enough to change how teams learn, lead and improve. 
 
It might just prompt you to look at the routines shaping your own team’s thinking. 



More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Using PDSA With Your AI Use Cases11 Mar 202600:10:53

Ever felt that AI experiments seem to start with excitement, then stall when the results don’t quite land?

PMI Senior Consultant Anthony Richardson digs into why that happens, and why the real breakthrough often comes when you stop hunting for the “perfect prompt” and start treating AI like any other improvement experiment.

It’s a conversation that reframes AI work as iterative, scientific and far more familiar to improvement practitioners than they might expect. A small shift in mindset; a big shift in outcomes.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Johari Window: What Don’t You Know About… You?18 Feb 202600:16:07

What if the biggest thing holding you back as a leader is something everyone can see, except you?

Join PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly as he explores the Johari Window, and how expanding your “open” area changes the way you show up at work. From habits you didn’t realise others notice to the untapped potential sitting in the unknown, this deceptively simple 1950s model still triggers big “aha” moments for today’s improvement practitioners.

Listen now and start developing the kind of self‑awareness that will quietly change how you lead.


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Connecting Strategy to Process Management04 Feb 202600:15:41

Tired of overloaded functions and fragile strategies that don’t hold up in reality?

Improvement lives where strategy meets process management. When you connect strategic goals to owned value streams and day-to-day process management, you create a pull for change instead of another cycle of overcommitted teams and stalled initiatives.

Join PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland as he explores the principles behind connecting strategy to process management, using clear explanations, relatable examples, and practical clarity that will help your organisation move from strategy on paper to progress you can see.

 


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


The AI Questions Leaders Are Struggling With21 Jan 202600:13:00

Leadership decisions around AI are still forming, and a lack of clarity is starting to show.

Hear from Anthony Richardson, PMI Senior Consultant guiding leaders on AI adoption in real organisations, as he answers the questions we’re hearing most often:

  • Should everyone in the organisation get a licence?
  • How do we know which AI tools people should be using?
  • How Much Does AI Remember About Us? 
  • Will my people become too dependent on AI?

This is a focused 13-minute conversation offering the guidance you need to lead AI adoption with confidence.


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Has Strategy Deployment Lost Its Lean?07 Jan 202600:18:17

If your strategy deployment feels like a box-ticking exercise, it’s a sign that something fundamental has been lost along the way.

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland explores how Lean strategy deployment has quietly drifted away from its roots. Instead of connecting strategy to value streams, teams and learning, many organisations have replaced process with targets, and called it progress.

Listen now and discover what true Lean strategy deployment looks like, and how to spot when your strategy is drifting into a wish list.

 

 More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Building Trust as a Leader24 Dec 202500:18:17

Which everyday leadership behaviours are building trust… and which might be eroding it?

Join Partner Consultant, Des Kelly, in conversation with Susannah Clarke as they explore what it really takes to earn trust as a leader. Using the simple but powerful “Trust Equation,” Des shares how credibility, reliability and emotional safety combine, and how unchecked self-interest quietly undermines them all.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


When Improvement Projects Don’t Progress10 Dec 202500:13:36

Improvement practitioners know the fear: you’ve done the work, you’ve found the solution… but your improvement project just doesn’t progress. The reality is that sometimes budget shifts, priorities change, stakeholders block. But stalled improvement projects aren’t wasted.

In this episode, Damion Albinson joins Susannah Clarke to unpack what you still gain when implementation doesn’t happen. From uncovering hidden quick wins, to spotting strategic misalignment early, to resetting how teams think about feasibility, Damion shows why these moments are some of the richest learning opportunities in the improvement cycle.


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


The Role of Leaders in AI Adoption26 Nov 202500:16:28

If your team isn’t using AI yet, it’s not just their problem. It’s yours. The innovators will dive in fearlessly, while the survivors hold back. Your challenge? Create the conditions for confident experimentation without risking chaos.

Join Anthony Richardson in the studio with Susannah Clarke as they explore how leaders can anchor AI adoption in process thinking and turn hesitation into action. Drawing on real examples from PMI’s AI for Leaders programme, Anthony shows how recognising the spectrum of adoption helps leaders create the conditions for safe experimentation, early wins, and lasting impact.

How can you bring AI into your team in a way that treats it as a valued digital colleague? Tune in to find out.



More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


From Unconscious Incompetence to Consciously Competent12 Nov 202500:14:57

Sometimes the biggest risks in your business aren’t obvious. They’re hidden in the gaps between teams. Work gets done, but critical information gets lost, compliance slips, and frustration builds.

In this episode, Damion Albinson and Susannah Clarke reveal how understanding the internal voice of the customer transforms how teams collaborate. Using real examples from a complex logistics environment, Damion shows how moving from “I didn’t know you needed that” to consciously understanding your role in the wider process can make a real difference.

If you want practical insight into bridging the hidden gaps in your processes and building a team that’s consciously competent, this episode is a must-listen.


 More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Process Confirmation: Catching Drift Before It Becomes a Gap29 Oct 202500:14:28

Even the best-designed processes can drift over time, but Process Confirmation stops small deviations from becoming major gaps.

In this episode, PMI Senior Consultant Damion Albinson explains why Process Confirmation isn’t about auditing but understanding how work really happens. He explores how this approach helps leaders stay connected to operational reality, using the insights to strengthen performance and build capability at every level.

From frontline operators to leaders managing improvement systems, Damion shares practical examples of how you can use Process Confirmation to uncover variation, validate standards, and drive Continuous Improvement in a structured, positive way.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Implement, Standardise, Review15 Oct 202500:17:38

You’ve delivered the project. The results are in. But six months later… the old ways of working have crept back in. So how do you stop progress from slipping away? 

Join PMI Senior Consultant Damion Albinson as he shares how to close the Improvement Cycle with confidence, turning delivery into lasting impact. Learn how thoughtful implementation, genuine stakeholder engagement, and building team capability can help change take root and grow.

If sustaining improvement feels like the toughest part, this episode will show how to make success stick and build momentum for what comes next.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Is/Is Not: The Overlooked Problem Solving Tool01 Oct 202500:15:18

What exactly is the problem? And what isn’t? It sounds simple, but getting clarity here can be the difference between chasing assumptions and finding the real root cause. 

Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson in the studio with Susannah Clarke as they discuss Is/Is Not, a beautifully simple tool often underused in problem solving. With a practical example involving soggy pizzas, Stuart shows how moving beyond scoping questions can generate powerful clues, test theories, and steer you toward evidence-based solutions. 


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Roles in Agile and Lean Six Sigma03 Sep 202500:13:09

Different approaches, same goal: better performance. That’s why Agile and Lean Six Sigma work together; aligning people, roles, and responsibilities to get the best out of every team.

Join Anthony Richardson in conversation with Susannah Clarke as they reveal how Lean Six Sigma roles like Green Belts, Black Belts, and Sponsors align with Agile roles such as Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers.

Learn when and how these roles intersect, why it matters for delivering improvements, and how clear role alignment can make your projects faster, smarter, and more effective.


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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


FMEA Beyond Manufacturing20 Aug 202500:18:39

It’s a classic tool.  But its reach is far wider than you might think.

Join PMI Consultant Des Kelly as he explains what Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) really is, how the 2019 global standard changed the game, and why Process FMEA now belongs in hospitals, call centres, control rooms and corporate functions as much as on the shop floor.

If you run, design, or depend on any process (yes, that means you!), you’ll see how FMEA can strengthen performance where it matters most, and start questioning why you ever left risk management to chance.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Lean Is Not About Efficiency, It’s About Abnormality at a Glance06 Aug 202500:15:53

It’s a bold claim, but one worth exploring.

Join PMI Consultant Niall Coney as he challenges one of the most persistent misconceptions in improvement: that Lean is about efficiency.

Through real-world examples and a return to the purpose behind Lean tools, Niall reframes Lean as a way to see abnormality at a glance.  Not as a shortcut to efficiency, but as a foundation for problem solving.

From 5S to standardised work, Andon to process confirmation, he explores how these tools expose problems rather than fix them, creating the conditions for better thinking, better habits, and better results.

If Lean feels like it’s missing the mark in your organisation, this conversation might just change the way you see it.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


AI for Smarter Problem Solving23 Jul 202500:14:04

AI is reshaping problem solving. But can it follow the methods you trust? 

Join PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh as he shares an improvement-in-action story where conventional thinking reached its limit, and a custom AI agent opened new possibilities. 

He explains the difference between generic AI tools and tailored agents, how prompt engineering is shaping the future of work, and why this isn’t about replacing expertise, but amplifying it. 

If you’ve ever wondered how AI could support improvement, this episode will show you what’s possible. 


More resources:

 

More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


When Is 8D the Right Problem-Solving Approach?09 Jul 202500:15:40

8D has a reputation for being thorough, rigorous, and methodical. But is it always the best choice? 

Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson as he takes us though three digestible scenarios to highlight the difference between everyday fixes, improvement work, and when 8D is exactly the right tool. Cutting through the confusion, he unpacks the method step-by-step and explains how to use it with discipline, not by default. 

If you’ve ever asked, “Should we just fix it or dig deeper?” this episode will help you decide. 


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Correlations: Unravelling Relationships25 Jun 202500:11:41

“If I change this… what happens over there?”

It’s a familiar question in improvement, and one that correlation helps us explore with rigour and insight.

Join PMI Consultant Niall Coney as he breaks down the concept of correlation and its role in uncovering meaningful relationships. Using practical examples, from machine settings to wellbeing initiatives, he explains how correlation and regression support evidence-based decisions, help avoid blind spots and focus improvement where it matters. 

But it’s not all good news. 

Niall also highlights essential cautions, including the limits of correlation, why causation can’t be assumed, and when covariance offers a sharper lens on variation.

Ready to move beyond surface observations and understand what’s really driving performance? This is essential listening.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


5 Leadership Pitfalls11 Jun 202500:14:35

On the surface, everything seems aligned. But improvement just won’t stick. Why? 

Join PMI Director Consultant Warren Knight as he unpacks five leadership behaviours that quietly derail progress. From staying too far from the frontline to clinging to outdated thinking, these pitfalls are easy to miss but hard to work around. 

If you’ve ever struggled to get traction, build momentum or gain support for your improvement work, this conversation will help you see what might really be going on. 


More resources you may find helpful:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


The Purpose of Process28 May 202500:15:08

It’s a deceptively simple question: What is the purpose of this process? 

An unclear process purpose is one of the most overlooked causes of waste, misaligned priorities, poor decisions, and missed improvement opportunities. Yet too often, teams dive into complex redesign without first agreeing on why the process exists at all. 

Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson as he shows how stepping back to define process purpose clearly and collaboratively can uncover hidden value, prevent confusion, and drive more effective improvement efforts. Expect practical insights, thoughtful examples, and a reminder that common sense isn’t always common practice. 


More resources you may find helpful:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


The Challenges of Defining Value Add14 May 202500:11:15

It’s simple: identify what’s valuable and do more of it. 

But in practice, defining what truly adds value and what doesn’t, can be far from straightforward. 

PMI Consultant Damion Albinson explores why defining “value add” is one of the trickiest yet most essential concepts in improvement. From legislative red tape to emotional resistance, he shares how well-intentioned tasks can cloud our view of what's really worth doing. 

Hear how to distinguish truly necessary work from disguised waste, why being comfortable with calling things "non-value add" reveals opportunity for real transformation, and how to navigate the emotional terrain of challenging long-held habits. 


More resources you may find helpful:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Design of Experiments: How to Read Between the Lines30 Apr 202500:14:30

The core principle of DoE is elegantly simple: “how does this thing affect that thing?” 

PMI Consultant Niall Coney explores the value of experimental design and regression analysis: clear thinking, informed decisions, and measurable impact. Whether you’re working on improvement in manufacturing or marketing, operations or organisational change, don’t let the fear of complex statistical calculations hold you back.  

It’s about asking better questions and digesting the answers.


More resources on this topic:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Decode Ambiguity with Operational Definitions16 Apr 202500:11:18

We’re on the same page…  Or are we?

In improvement work, misaligned understanding around simple terms like ‘on time’ or ‘complete’ can derail progress before it begins. But PMI Consultant Damion Albinson explains how you can cut through the noise with clear operational definitions.

Discover how to turn vague expectations into measurable clarity, avoid costly misunderstandings, and build trust with both customers and colleagues. The difference between rework and results starts with shared understanding.


More resources on this topic:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Simplifying Sampling Strategies 02 Apr 202500:13:53

Does data collection feel like a tedious, time-consuming hurdle in your improvement projects? It doesn’t have to be.

Join Niall Coney, Consultant at PMI, for a 15-minute masterclass in smarter data collection that delivers reliable insights without wasting time or resources. Learn how to choose the right sampling strategy, ensure accuracy with the right measurement systems, and leverage data simulation effectively.


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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


How to Onboard an Improvement Team Effectively19 Mar 202500:11:13

Your improvement team is assembled, the project is underway, but something’s off. Misalignment keeps surfacing, engagement is lacking, and stalled progress feels inevitable.

Join PMI Consultant and improvement project expert Mark Allison, as he shares the essential steps for setting your team up for success, with practical techniques to build clarity, confidence, and collaboration from day one. Take the time to consider your onboarding process and ensure that your next project kicks off with a team that’s engaged, motivated, and ready to contribute.


Related resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Change or Chance? Understanding Hypothesis Testing05 Mar 202500:14:41

When you spot a difference in your data, is it because something has genuinely changed, or is it just chance?

Join Niall Coney, Consultant at PMI, as he demystifies hypothesis testing: one of the most misunderstood tools in improvement. From p-values to t-tests, Niall breaks it down in practical terms, showing how the right statistical ‘screwdriver’ can give you the confidence to act on your data. 

Plus, a relatable lesson in learning to trust the numbers, even when they don’t tell you what you want to hear! Listen now and take the guesswork out of improvement.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


The Value of Capability Analysis 19 Feb 202500:12:59

If you’re making decisions based on assumptions, this episode could change everything.

Join PMI Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh for a real-world case study where Capability Analysis exposed a costly blind spot for an unsuspecting organisation. As he shares valuable lessons learned from the experience, discover why process stability is just the beginning, how to avoid misleading conclusions, and the crucial role of strong supplier relationships for success.


More resources:


More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Identifying The Right People For Your Team05 Feb 202500:13:01

Struggling with team dynamics? When it comes to building a successful improvement team, skills matter, but the right people are everything.

Join PMI Consultant and improvement project expert Mark Allison as he shares his proven approach to assembling a team that delivers. He explains why passion and intrinsic motivation are more important than expertise, and why at least half your team should consist of process operators.

This episode could be the game-changer you need for success in your next improvement project.


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Understanding Capability in Process Performance22 Jan 202500:13:39

How confident are you that the processes you rely on can delight your customers? 

Capability studies will provide the answer by revealing whether your processes are delivering what your customers truly want or simply what they’re willing to tolerate. Join PMI Director Consultant Warren Knight as he shares the principles, practices, and real-world insights that will empower your teams to move beyond "good enough" and consistently deliver excellence.

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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


How Are Histograms Different to Bar Charts?08 Jan 202500:09:55

The patterns in your data can hold the key to better business decisions.

Histograms go beyond simple bar charts, offering a clear view of data distribution to uncover trends, probabilities, and hidden opportunities in your processes. Join PMI Director Consultant, Warren Knight, as he shares real-world examples and actionable tips to help you use histograms to uncover issues, enhance performance and deliver greater value to your customers. Tune in and discover the insights you’ve missed.


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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


SPC Charts: Driving Sustainable Performance Gains25 Dec 202400:14:36

Stop chasing symptoms and start driving sustainable performance gains.

PMI Director Consultant Warren Knight shares how SPC Charts can unlock powerful insights into any metric, whether it’s sales conversion rates, recruitment timelines, or customer response times. This versatile tool goes beyond short-term results, revealing long-term trends that help distinguish normal variation from real performance issues.

With Warren’s personal insights, practical tips, and real-world examples, this conversation showcases how understanding variation leads to smarter decisions, prevents reactive management, and drives meaningful process improvements.


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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Reporting and Reviewing Performance 11 Dec 202400:12:01

Are sales up this month? Have we produced more product this week than last week? Did we exceed our KPIs? Understanding how we’re performing against targets is a fundamental measure and is often reported using visual signals – green for ‘we’re doing great’, red for ‘we have a problem’.

But what this system doesn’t tell us is how our performance is varying over time. Join PMI Director Consultant Warren Knight, as he talks about common cause variation, and how responding to every signal can lead to increased inconsistency and frustration in your processes.


More resources on this topic:

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Why Quality, Why Today?27 Nov 202400:12:48

Your Quality Improvement activity isn’t delivering the value you want.

Business is fast-paced and complex, but your success can’t be sustained if you’re not focusing on what’s important. PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly invites you to rethink your approach to Quality with insights from over four decades of industry transformation.

We explore how organisations have moved from a product-centric to a customer-first mindset, and why Continuous Improvement and employee engagement are key to delivering real value. Plus, you’ll hear why sustainability and ethics have a growing role of in shaping Quality strategies, and how digital tools are enabling a shift from reactive problem-solving to proactive, real-time solutions.

Ensure that your Quality efforts are focused on what genuinely drives impact with these valuable perspectives that could change the way you approach Quality.


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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Quality Driven Agile13 Nov 202400:12:06

Quality and Agile thrive together by putting your customer at the centre of what you do.

Join PMI Senior Consultant Anthony Richardson as he reveals how Agile tools like Empathy Maps, User Stories, and Retrospectives enhance both flexibility and customer satisfaction, debunking the myth that Agile improvement sacrifices quality for speed.

With insights into the crucial role of the Product Owner and the power of Continuous Improvement, this episode will inspire you to adopt strategies that elevate your business practices, keeping Quality front and centre.

More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Agile Visual Management 30 Oct 202400:15:18

What’s stopping you from visualising your workflow?

Join us as we delve into Agile Visual Management, sharing how integrating Agile principles with visual management techniques can help you tackle backlogs and maintain a steady workflow while boosting team morale. PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland explains how tools like Kanban boards can simplify complex projects, providing clarity on tasks that are in progress, stuck, or completed. Learn to connect user stories to value, prioritise effectively, and quickly clear bottlenecks.

Expand your Agile knowledge and elevate your project delivery with this must-listen episode!

More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Agile Meets Lean Six Sigma: A Case Study16 Oct 202400:14:48

What would happen if you integrated Agile into your improvement activity? In this episode, we explore how Lean Six Sigma and Agile methodologies work together.

PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland shares a case study about an internal development team, initially hesitant to adopt Agile practices. By integrating Lean Six Sigma principles and embedding developers within the improvement team, they fostered collaboration and developed a visual management interface using low-code tools. This approach improved efficiency in a logistics operation and avoided the cost of a new ERP system.

Tune in to discover how combining Agile and Lean Six Sigma can enhance collaboration and drive project success in your business.

More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


What Is Agile Improvement?02 Oct 202400:14:17

Do you ever wonder how some organisations adapt to change so effortlessly?

PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland describes how Agile methodologies, rooted in the Agile Manifesto, combine with Lean principles to drive sustainable, customer-focused improvements. Tune in to hear why Agile Improvement isn’t a trend, but a powerful approach that can help organisations just like yours implement solutions quickly and effectively, using PDSA to refine and sustain progress, and thrive in dynamic environments.

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More from PMI:


Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


How To Get The Best Out Of Your Improvement Team18 Sep 202400:11:13

Think you already know how to unlock a team’s potential?

Then you need to join Mark Allison; PMI Senior Consultant and experienced improvement team leader, for an engaging exploration that will reveal how you can truly optimise the performance of your team.  Learn more about the delicate art of building strong relationships, how to uncover hidden strengths, and tips for navigating resistance to change, as Mark shares valuable insights that are the difference between a good team and a great team.  

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


What Gets In The Way Of Adopting SPC?04 Sep 202400:13:41

Your process data today is different from yesterday.  But is an investigation worthy of your time?

As an Improvement Practitioner, you already know that understanding variation is crucial and that Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts offer profound insights into process stability and performance – so what gets in the way of adopting SPC across your wider organisation?

Whether you're facing resistance from teams, struggling with data overload, or unsure where to start, PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh tackles the real-world roadblocks you’re experiencing. Dennis shares practical strategies to ensure SPC adoption takes root and drives meaningful, lasting change throughout your organisation.


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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Applying Lean In Service21 Aug 202400:12:56

“Does Lean apply to me?  It’s fine for manufacturing, but I work in the service industry.”

Join Niall Coney, Consultant at PMI, as he challenges widespread misconceptions about Lean practices, exploring the origins and core principles, and highlighting their broader applicability. By emphasising the critical importance of understanding the "why" behind these tools, he offers compelling, real-world examples of their successful use in service contexts.

Packed with thought-provoking insights and actionable book recommendations, this is an unmissable episode for service industry professionals looking to enhance their Lean expertise.  

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Communicating Results with Impact 07 Aug 202400:08:58

The way you present your project achievements could be the difference between driving impactful change and losing your audience entirely.

Delve into the critical art of effectively communicating results with PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh. Drawing from his extensive experience and lessons learned, he offers practical advice on structuring presentations for maximum impact. Gain valuable insights on customising language to resonate with your audience and aligning your message with key organisational metrics.

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Use X Matrix to Determine the Vital Priorities24 Jul 202400:14:48

How do you deploy a strategy effectively and ensure it makes the impact that will elevate your organisation?

In the final episode of our strategy-focused mini-series, PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly shares how you can transform your organisation's strategy into a clear, actionable roadmap that everyone can follow using the X matrix.  This powerful visual management tool forms part of the Hoshin Kanri approach and plays a critical role in strategic alignment, communication, and measurement, ensuring your strategy not only reaches its full potential but drives outstanding results across the organisation.

Are you ready to transform your strategy?  PMI’s skilled consultants can help you turn your Goals into Results, assisting you at every stage from conception through to implementation.  Learn more at https://pmi.co.uk/consultancy/#strategy 

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


A Model for Improvement at Any Level22 Jul 202400:10:57

How will you know that your reinvigorated strategy is an improvement?  Join PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly in the next episode of our strategy-focused mini-series as he delves into the art of defining clear, actionable objectives. 

Discover how to harness the power of the 3 Question Model from Nolan and Provost to sharpen your strategy, as Des guides you through the essential questions: ‘What are we trying to accomplish?’, ‘How will we know that change is an improvement?’, and ‘What changes can we make that will result in improvement?’.  Tune in to unlock the secrets to crafting a strategy that delivers real results.

Are you ready to transform your strategy?  PMI’s skilled consultants can help you turn your Goals into Results, assisting you at every stage from conception through to implementation.  Learn more at https://pmi.co.uk/consultancy/#strategy 

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


Organise and Sequence Improvement Ideas Using AD and ID20 Jul 202400:12:22

Developing a successful strategy requires the transformation of abstract ideas into actionable plans, and this is where the Affinity Diagram and the Interrelationship Diagraph are invaluable.

Join us for the sixth episode of our strategy-focused mini-series as we move on to top tools for establishing the end goals and objectives.  PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly reveals how AD and ID can foster consensus among senior leadership teams and pinpoint key drivers through converting qualitative insights into structured, strategic objectives.

Are you ready to transform your strategy?  PMI’s skilled consultants can help you turn your Goals into Results, assisting you at every stage from conception through to implementation.  Learn more at https://pmi.co.uk/consultancy/#strategy 

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Take your improvement career to the next level with PMI's Lean Six Sigma Certifications - now available in two new and accessible formats, built around you. 


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