Last week, we hosted a webinar exploring the intersection of lean thinking and artificial intelligence. Tyson Heaton interviewed Toyota veterans and lean leaders Art Smalley and John Shook about the history of AI in manufacturing and its current potential to accelerate people development.
Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:
- AI as a Coach: Art demoed an AI-powered tool that can analyze A3s and provide feedback, acting as a “coach in your pocket” to help you strengthen your problem-solving skills.
- Democratizing Lean: AI has the potential to make lean thinking more accessible to everyone. You don’t need an expensive consultant or frequent access to a seasoned expert to get high-quality feedback and guidance.
- Amplifying Human Capability: The goal of Lean AI isn’t to replace people, but to augment people’s abilities. It’s a tool to help people think more deeply and become better problem-solvers.
We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible with Lean AI, and we’re excited to see how it will continue to evolve.
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Very interesting and very inspiring, honestly. But I am just wondering if the ai should not be implemented more upstream?