EVENT - The Lean Global Connection is around the corner! Our editor takes you through some of the key highlights you can expect and reminds us of the idea behind the largest online lean event in the world.

Words: Roberto Priolo, Head of Communications, Lean Global Network

In just 27 days, our community will come together for the third year in a row to participate in the largest online lean event in the world. We launched the Lean Global Connection in 2021, at the height of the pandemic. Back then, with presential events all but impossible, this was our only way to stay in touch with all of you.

Things have clearly changed since then. Luckily, Covid is now behind us, and in-person conferences are back. And yet, we at the Lean Global Network have decided to continue holding this event, because we believe it provides a fantastic opportunity for the global lean community to gather and discuss the issues facing our world. Of which there are many.

Last year, the LGC analyzed the resilience of lean organizations during the pandemic and investigated how lean gives its best at a time of crisis. This year, we decided to go one step further, digging deeper into what we consider to be the key challenges facing businesses today. Our discussions resulted in a list of nine challenges (not exhaustive, but pretty comprehensive), which we believe impact all of us.

• The digital landscape in the age of AI.
• Supply chain disruptions
• Climate change
• Low productivity
• Inflation
• Talent acquisition, retention, and development
• Aligning strategy with activity
• Meeting everyone’s basic needs
• Developing new products and services

We are not claiming we are going to “solve inflation” or magically make climate change go away, of course. What we are saying, however, is that Lean Thinking has a clear point of view – and, therefore, something to say – on each of these challenges. This is what this year’s LGC will focus on and that’s why our theme for 2023 is “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. We are convinced that with lean, no challenge is too big to tackle.

Here’s how we are going to do it…

For each challenge, we are organizing a panel discussion (in a couple of cases, a one-to-one interview) with lean practitioners with direct experience in the field. For our “meeting basic needs” panel, for instance, Lex Schroeder will facilitate a discussion between leaders in healthcare, sustainability, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. For the “talent” panel, Matteo Consagra of Istituto Lean Management in Italy will be joined by CEOs who will share their view on what it takes to find the right people and keep them in your company (hint: it has to do with respecting them and developing their capabilities).

The rest of the presentations we’ll offer – there will be over 100 – will also delve into the nine challenges. But we will also have our beloved quiz, run by René Aernoudts, and thought-leader presentations by Jim Womack, John Shook and Michael Ballé.

We have a wide array of companies presenting, ranging from Colombian airline Avianca to Mercedes-Benz, from the PortAventura theme park near Barcelona to Türk Telecom, from IKEA to KONE. But we’ll also hear from TechnipFMC, from a recycling plant in Chile, from coffee farmers in Nepal, from hospitals in the US and Italy, and from many, many others. We don’t call this event “global” for nothing!

This is a bonanza a lean content and it will be available to you completely FREE OF CHARGE. Why? Because, at Lean Global Network, advancing Lean Thinking and Practice is our mission. We want as many people as possible to be exposed to these case studies, interviews, and thought leaders’ presentations, because we firmly believe that the world can benefit from having more lean thinkers. You can help us spread the word, too, by inviting your friends and colleagues to register for the event. Let’s make this a leaner world, together!

_{What are you waiting for? Get registered today! The Lean Global Connection starts at 2pm UTC on November 30th and runs for 24 hours straight.}

_{Schedule available here To register for free, click here}

_THE AUTHOR