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The Lean Post / Articles / The Management Brief Bonus Edition | Two Lean Luminaries and Two Processes for Lean Transformation 

The Management Brief Bonus Edition | Two Lean Luminaries and Two Processes for Lean Transformation 

Executive Leadership

Product & Process Development

The Management Brief Bonus Edition | Two Lean Luminaries and Two Processes for Lean Transformation 

By Josh Howell, James Morgan, PhD and Mark Reich

September 29, 2025

In this special dual-release of The Design Brief and The Management Brief, Josh Howell is joined by LEI veterans Jim Morgan and Mark Reich to explore two powerful lean processes: lean product and process development (LPPD) and hoshin kanri. Drawing on decades of experience at Toyota, Ford, Rivian, and beyond, they reveal how these methods align strategy, accelerate innovation, and transform enterprises from the C-suite to the frontline.

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In this special dual-release edition of The Design Brief and The Management Brief, Josh Howell, LEI President, is joined by LEI veterans Jim Morgan, Senior Advisor, and Mark Reich, Senior Coach and Chief Engineer Strategy. These two lean heavyweights discuss two fundamental lean processes that are absolutely critical to transform and grow an enterprise: lean product and process development (LPPD) and hoshin kanri. 

Jim is a former Ford Global Engineering Director and Rivian Chief Operating Officer. He co-authored The Toyota Product Development System and Designing the Future, both of which elements of LPPD, a system for developing new products and services and their required value streams. Jim co-authored The Toyota Product Development System and Designing the Future, both of which explore elements of LPPD, a system for developing new products and services and the processes needed to produce and deliver them. LPPD surfaces and resolves issues across the product-development value stream in order to minimize time- and profit-consuming wastes and rework. 

Mark, a 23-year veteran of Toyota, including work in Corporate Strategy at the automaker, recently authored Managing on Purpose, which explores hoshin kanri and how it aligns enterprises at every level — C-suite through the frontline — via a shared common purpose, problem solving, and continuous learning. Since 2011 when he joined LEI, Mark has successfully helped many executives apply hoshin kanri and transform their companies in a variety of business sectors.  

For executives not yet familiar with LPPD and hoshin kanri — especially those leading and growing enterprises — this discussion should be eye-opening. Jim and Mark reveal these two processes as not operations-only tools but game-changing methods for corporate leaders to transform their organizations. They describe the importance of these powerful processes to overall business success, their successes at Toyota and other lean organizations, and how the processes can significantly help any business, big or small.

Watch the conversation or listen below. Also available on the WLEI Podcast, listen on your favorite podcast app.


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Lean Leadership Learning Tour

Go beyond theory—see lean leadership in action.

Written by:

Josh Howell
|
James Morgan, PhD
|
Mark Reich

About Josh Howell

Joshua Howell is president and executive team leader at the Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI). For over a decade, he has supported individuals and organizations with lean transformations for improved business performance. As a coach, he helps people become lean thinkers and practitioners through experiential learning, believing such an approach can…

Read more about Josh Howell

About Mark Reich

Mark Reich spent 23 years working for Toyota, starting in 1988 with six years in Japan in the Overseas Planning Division, where he was responsible for Product Planning and worked with Chief Engineers to define vehicle specifications for overseas markets. This was at a critical time when Toyota was introducing…

Read more about Mark Reich

About James Morgan, PhD

Jim is a senior advisor at Lean Enterprise Institute and a board member at Adrian Steel. He has a unique blend of industry leadership experience and rigorous scholarship, which he draws upon to improve organizational performance at a select group of companies.  Jim’s most recent industry experience was as Chief…

Read more about James Morgan, PhD
Comments (1)
Benny Leesays:
October 8, 2025 at 2:23 am

i came from adult education space, a training provider that offer workplace safety and health training solution (more of B2C) to high risk sectors, like construction, manufacturing and marine. we have issues with product development, particularly often delayed launch, or poor sales pick up. how does lean product and process development (LPPD) and hoshin kanri get applied and gain success? execution is often a problem. can you share your thoughts?

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