04/21/2026
"Building on a real problem is great, that way the skills learned are applicable in real time."
That quote from Chris Lyle sums up what happened today.
Session 2 of 2 of the Problem Solving Series at Wright State University Lake Campus is complete, and this group of leaders showed up ready to work.
Real problems from their floors were shared - quality issues, safety concerns, process breakdowns - and we spent the morning learning problem-solving tools and then building complete A3s from start to finish.
Just enough background and then straight into practical use.
On their problems. To find their solutions.
The A3 was the clear standout. Several leaders said it "blew their mind" because it finally brings all the scattered pieces of problem-solving into one practical, usable page.
And what I loved reading - the group rated the session a 4.8 out of 5 for "Practical & Relevant" across 19 ratings for this series.
I love it because I've lived it. Knowing theory is useful, but having a way to make it immediately practical is what can drive immediate impact.
Teaching what has actually worked when short on time, resources, and patience...
What this builds:
"This made me more confident that I knew this process better than I thought and can apply it correctly in the future." - Deanna
Always a favorite: The group discussions and table work. More heads really do equal better root causes, and the peer feedback helps the learning stick that much deeper.
A big thank you to Wright State University Lake Campus, and as always to the incredibly helpful and accommodating Cassandra and Tammy at the BEC, for the opportunity and for making the day run so smoothly.
And a sincere thank you to the great companies that sent their leaders.
• AMS Seat Structures
• CAPT - Celina Aluminum Precision Technology Inc.
• Buckeye Coating Technology
It is fantastic to see our local companies investing in their leaders! And it was awesome to see today's group both sharing their knowledge and learning right alongside each other.
Grateful for days like this.
(And yes… we got the photo next to the rock again! Beautiful isn't it?!)