Best Pdca Podcasts (2025)

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The Tact of Takt II aka You Can't Be a Little Bit Pregnant! 32:24

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10d ago32:24

32:24

Send us a text A continuation from our previous Tact is Takt episode, due to the deluge of questions asked by our subscribers. Options to deal with variations in your Takt calculation, visualising the opportunity for further improvement, skills, flexibility, 8 Wastes, and the impact of WIP are all touched upon in this jam-packed episode. If you're …

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The Tact of Takt aka A Trip to Japan 31:57

24d ago31:57

31:57

Send us a text The #TRIL Team are back with another episode sharing their latest exploits and experiences, revolving around lean leadership, continuous improvement and OpEx. In this episode Russ gives us an insight into his recent trip to Japan, and John rambles on around the adventures of the great John Adair. We also discuss the question ' What i…

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The TRIL Leadership Interview Series - Glyn Holman 35:57

28d ago35:57

35:57

Send us a text The Rest is Lean (#TRIL) Podcast brings you powerful conversations with professionals from across the globe, sharing real-world experiences in lean manufacturing and leadership. Each episode dives into the principles, challenges, and successes that shape modern organizations—told by those who live them every day. From industry vetera…

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PDCA or CAPDo aka In-SPIRE-ing Lean 31:50

2M ago31:50

31:50

Send us a text Another episode for Team #tril to get their teeth into and they get underway with some subsciber questions, one of which with a 'divine' theme which leads them to exploring the statement that Lean can be applied anywhere and everywhere. Alan brings a recent experience of 5S/6S and even 7S, and asks if this is necessary or just over-c…

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Lean You Wouldn't Do? aka Red Flags & Frogs in Wells 31:18

2M ago31:18

31:18

Send us a text John returns to the fold from his hiatus. Team #tril revisit a previous episode with some real world examples of where potentially doing too much lean has had some 'interesting' consequences! They also challenge their values and beliefs when it comes work. Find out what work the boys have declined and why, plus what are the red flags…

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Voice of the Customer aka The 'Pull' of Learning 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

Send us a text The Dynamic Duo of Russell & Alan bring in Series 3 with a bang! With John missing (don't worry he'll be back!) the guys get stuck in to topics and comments from our audience. In this episode we focus on Voice of the Customer and the 'pull' this can provide businesses to learn about what adds value for customers. Knowing the differen…

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Season 2 Finale aka Tool or not to Tool, That is the Question 28:52

3M ago28:52

28:52

Send us a text As Team #TRIL bring this season to a close, they try to address some of the ever expanding questions the pod is receiving from its ever increasing subscriber base. "Which one of the improvement tools would you suggest to train a newbie in first?" "What improvement literature would you refer to someone interested in lean?" As ever, yo…

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Too Much Lean, Is it possible? aka Tesla and Toyota Insights 31:45

4M ago31:45

31:45

Send us a text This episode looks at a question many of our subscribers are asking: Can you do too much lean? Team #TRIL try their best to share their views on this very interesting topic by covering certain points such as: - "Rationing" Kaizen - Driving the right behaviours for Lean. - Dangers associated with building a CI Culture - Managing Oppor…

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World Class Team Leader Training Ideas aka Is This Legal??? 32:24

4M ago32:24

32:24

Send us a text Continuing on from our previous episode on world class team leader competencies, the #TRIL Team talk about their experiences on courses they've led or experienced by others, to help create these competencies and instil in future team leaders. You'll find some of those experiences quite extreme to say the least! They also cover: - Boo…

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S5 E11 - Diane Kulisek – Engineering Across Industries 1:00:04

5M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

I have a conversation with Diane Kulisek in this episode. Diane, a veteran in quality systems and regulatory affairs, shares her journey from Gillette to Rocketdyne to Johnson & Johnson, weaving in the principles of Deming and the realities of complex, high-stakes industries. We dive into W. Edwards Deming’s seminal perspectives on quality and how …

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World Class Team Leader Competencies aka Going Global 30:12

5M ago30:12

30:12

Send us a text This episode is going places! Russell shares with the team the reach that the podcast is extending to. You'll be surprised (but not as much as we were!) Team #TRIL delve into the world of the team leader to understand the competencies that make truly world class TLs, as well as discuss some of the pitfalls companies should be aware o…

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Visual Management, Gemba and Escalation aka 'The Autonomic System' 28:16

5M ago28:16

28:16

Send us a text Following on from the last episode on SQCDP, the #tril Team use this as an opportunity to answer some of the great questions we've had from our listeners. Topics include: - Visual Management in general - The 1-3-10 rule & 1-3-3 rule for visual management boards - Rules of escalation - Scenario based training - The benefits of going t…

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S5 E10 - Doug Finke – From Mainframes to Machine Learning 55:05

5M ago55:05

55:05

In this episode, I have a conversation with Doug Finke. A 16-time Microsoft MVP and long-time technologist, Doug’s experience ranges from mainframe assembly programming to pioneering AI integrations in software development. We reminisce about the early days of system programming and explore how those foundational skills have enabled technologists l…

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Measuring SQCDP and ensuring value over cost aka 'The measures of unintended consequence' 34:10

5M ago34:10

34:10

Send us a text Following the aftermath of #subcon2025, Team #TRIL discuss the dangers of measuring the wrong things in your business. and how to ensure you have balance to drive the right behaviours and enable your business to thrive! Other topics include: - Russell interviewing the wife (will ours be next!) and the sacrifices we sometimes have to …

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S5 E9 Lonnie Wilson – Carrying On the Deming Torch 41:25

6M ago41:25

41:25

I have a fantastic conversation with Lonnie Wilson in this episode, diving deep into W. Edwards Deming’s seminal perspectives on quality, systems thinking, and the enduring challenges of operationalizing his philosophy in the real world. Lonnie also shares how his initial admiration for Chevron's management practices began to unravel after encounte…

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Keeping it simple is the key to sustainable lean transformation aka 'Goat or Car' 28:45

6M ago28:45

28:45

Send us a text Sustainability and keeping it simple!! Continuing our conversations around lean transformation and sustaining it in your business, John, Russell & Alan (Team#tril) have finally recovered from their trip to #subcon2025. As well as our regular 'Japanese Word' slot the guys continue with their tips and thoughts which can simply be put i…

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#subcon2025 Special Edition. Podcast live at the NEC 'Why lean sustainability can fail' 30:41

6M ago30:41

30:41

Send us a text For the first time ever, The Rest is Lean Podcast goes on the road! This time to Subcon2025 at the NEC in Birmingham UK. #subcon2025 The #trilteam enjoy a jam-packed 2 days at the event, taking in some fantastic examples of manufacturing innovation from companies all over the globe. We continued our theme on sustainability of lean tr…

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S5 E8 - Rebels of Reason Chapter 28 The Saga of Siri (Summary) 4:28

7M ago4:28

4:28

I'm still trying to figure out how to produce the audiobook for Rebels of Reason. This is my first experiment with 11Labs. It's not great. I will have to work on the voice equipment; however, it's a start. I hope you enjoy it.By John Willis

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Barriers to sustainable Lean. Visible support & need 4 lean aka 'When no problem is a problem' 28:36

7M ago28:36

28:36

Send us a text Sustainability is the name of the game. Lean Transformations and how to make them stick! In preparation for our pending visit to #subcon2025, Team #tril discuss some of the key attributes that make a lean transformation a successful lean transformation. The 'need' of the organisation. Visibility of the 'Why' and of Leadership Leader …

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Useful Gadgets & Team Dynamics for #lean professionals #nlp aka 'Man Down Man Down!' 44:51

7M ago44:51

44:51

Send us a text Oh no what are we to do? Where is Russell? Both John and Alan hold the fort this time around as Russ takes a well deserved break. As well as catching up on recent events, the #TRILTeam (Lite!) get onto the topics of Team Dynamics and Activity 'Gadgets'. How important is team makeup and what sources are out there which can help us est…

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Quality, Cost & Delivery #qcd The essential KPI's for every lean team brief? aka Q&A Session 50:41

8M ago50:41

50:41

Send us a text If you thought the last episode was a good one then you're in for a real treat with this! Our first Q&A Podcast of the new series sees #TeamTRIL go through a raft of questions posed by our subscribers. Our Japanese word of the week segment gets another look in, plus the usual trolling of Russell! There's even an opportunity to learn …

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The 4 types of problem solving skill. Is return to standard Kaizen? aka New season Rambling 43:32

8M ago43:32

43:32

Send us a text Series 2 gets underway with a belter! #TeamTRIL share some of their problem solving experiences (good & bad). There's some good old-fashioned 'kimono opening' by the guys along with Russ' Japanese Word of the Week and his "Ambush Question". There will definitely be some 'Restless Reflection' in this section of the Pod, including: Is …

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S5 E7 - Dr. Bill Bellows - Thinking About Thinking and the In2:InThinking Forum 2025 48:56

8M ago48:56

48:56

I have a deeply insightful conversation with Dr. Bill Bellows in this episode of the Profound Podcast. We dive into the heart of what it means to think about thinking—a concept that lies at the core of the In2:InThinking Network, a community Dr. Bellows co-founded to carry forward the transformational work of W. Edwards Deming and other systems pio…

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S5 E6 - Jim Highsmith – Navigating the Past to Shape the Future 46:35

9M ago46:35

46:35

In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Jim Highsmith. We dive into Jim’s six-decade career in software development, his role in the Agile movement, and how his early influences continue to shape his thinking on digital transformation today. Jim shares stories from the punch card era to the Agile Manifesto, offering insight into the…

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Rachel Reeves faces UK manufacturing questions aka 'Look after our SMEs & Apprentices!' 43:10

9M ago43:10

43:10

Send us a text As Series 1 comes to a close #TeamTRIL discuss Russ' recent visit to the Make UK Conference in London. As well as playing 'Word Bingo' and fine craft beers (don't ask!!), some of the key questions, posed to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, are shared, providing an opportunity for the guys to offer their thoughts on those very important topi…

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Jugaad to TPM. The merits of using foreign words in your business aka "Talking Japanese' 40:45

9M ago40:45

40:45

Send us a text The Team discuss the use of non-native words and phrases within your business. Do they help or hinder? #Jugaad makes an unexpected appearance! Do Three-letter acronyms count as a foreign language? John Dee. DEE Enterprise Excellence Ltd. www.dee.uk.net Alan Lothian. 3A Business Excellence Ltd. www.aaabel.co.uk Russell Watkins. Sempai…

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S5 E5 - Mark Graban – Learning from Mistakes in Lean and Beyond 55:47

10M ago55:47

55:47

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Graban, a leading voice in Lean and continuous improvement, to explore the enduring relevance of W. Edwards Deming’s principles in modern industries. Mark shares his decades of work in healthcare, manufacturing, and leadership consulting. We dive into key themes from Mark’s career and writing, particularly his …

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Start your lean journey. Is Honda, Toyota, Nissan's approach different? aka 'A Borg Mentality' 55:13

10M ago55:13

55:13

Send us a text This episode is a real rollercoaster of a podcast! The TRIL Team offer their thoughts on a question about how to start your lean journey if your the leader of a business. They cover the capabilities required to make highly effective people within your lean organisation. Also some great questions to ask when trying to establish how ef…

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Who is the best Operator? & how does a group share lean practice aka Buddy plants & pull 51:23

10M ago51:23

51:23

Send us a text This episode is jam-packed with tips and stories from our previous lean exploits. Picking up from an audience question, the team quickly get on to the topic of discussing their 'Best' Operator experiences. Also, how lean (if applied effectively) should helping the operator through making life less painful whilst maintaining safety le…

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S5 E4 - Reuven Cohen – AI, Automation, and the Future of Human Work 57:04

10M ago57:04

57:04

In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Reuven Cohen, someone who I believe is one of the most important voices in AI today. Reuven recounts his journey in technology, from being an early advocate of cloud computing to now working at the cutting edge of AI and reasoning models. He shares insights into how AI is shifting the nature o…

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Avoid the most common red tagging mistakes in 5S activities aka 'A Dose of 5S Part 2' 45:14

11M ago45:14

45:14

Send us a text This episode continues from the great discussions the team had previously on 5S (or 5C) Alan, Russell & John reflect on their experiences on 5S activities they've led over the years The purpose of 5S The real intent of the red tag (which may surprise a few!) When red tags are not allowed?? Pointers on conducting an effective 5S activ…

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S5 E3 - Joseph Enochs – DeepSeek, Emergent Behavior, and the Future of Intelligence 54:28

11M ago54:28

54:28

In this episode, I talk with returning guest Joseph Enochs about the artificial intelligence (AI) world and its implications for businesses and innovation. A major highlight of the conversation is an analysis of DeepSeek, an open-source AI model developed by a Chinese company. Joseph explains how DeepSeek and similar models demonstrate that AI deve…

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Deploying 5S, 5C, Workplace Organisation. It's a Lean model, not a script aka 'A Dose of 5S' 45:21

11M ago45:21

45:21

Send us a text In this episode, the guys give their views and responses to some of the subscriber questions, including a continuation from our previous episode around 'The Toughest Job'. Having discussed what the guys have been up to since they last met, the episode primarily focussed on 5S (or 5C, Workplace Organisation, etc). One of the foundatio…

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We name the toughest job in manufacturing & how to support them in lean aka "well meant intent" 48:51

11M ago48:51

48:51

Send us a text In this episode, the guys give their views and responses to some of the subscriber questions, including the power of perspective! Russell also poses the question on what is the toughest role in an organisation. Many of you maybe surprised by our responses!! As ever, the TRIL Team share their experiences on all of the above, and provi…

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Live Pareto charts and alternate data for effective CI Op-ex and Lean, aka 'Skip Diving' 46:47

11M ago46:47

46:47

Send us a text In this episode, the guys discuss Data and Digital Transformation. From the pitfalls of planning and preparation to simple, low cost alternatives to converting data into accurate information quickly, allowing you to make the right decisions fast! John tries out his new E-Bike and finds an old photo from his distant past which some of…

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The nature of night shifts, and avoiding the lean blocker 'Silo Mentality' aka 'Night Silos' 45:10

11M ago45:10

45:10

Send us a text In this Episode, the boys discuss amoungst other things, The culture challenges and advantages of working on Night shifts. Also we look at the importance of avoiding departmental or 'Silo' mentality. Russel also shares a top tip for our subscribers to try. If you want dry, facts or lessons on the use of Lean tools, you may need to lo…

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Effective Start of Shift Briefs and the negative impact of bad ones aka 'Check-in Fury' 39:33

11M ago39:33

39:33

Send us a text In this episode, the guys find out that the podcast is gaining global reach and they take some Q&A from the audience. They also offer their take on the importance of starting your shift well and how to make your start of shift briefs as effective as possible. Last but certainly not least, don't miss Alan's rant about a recent airport…

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What makes a good lean change agent aka Avengers Assemble, and how we got started in Lean 27:05

11M ago27:05

27:05

Send us a text In this episode, the boys share how they first got into Lean, and start to debate what makes someone well suited to a role as a 'change agent' If you want dry, facts or lessons on the use of Lean tools, you may need to look elsewhere. But if you are up for a laugh, and want to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how lean really works f…

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How to assess a company QUICKLY, for Lean traits aka First Visit tips 12:18

11M ago12:18

12:18

Send us a text In this Episode, the boys share some quick and easy techniques to learn about a company on a first visit, or to find out more about your own company. These techniques will often lead to insights and opportunities to improve If you want dry, facts or lessons on the use of Lean tools, you may need to look elsewhere. But if you are up f…

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S5 E2 - Laksh Raghavan - Multidisciplinary Thinking in Complex Systems Part 2 36:25

11M ago36:25

36:25

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Laksh Raghavan, a cybersecurity leader and systems thinker, diving into profound insights on applying multidisciplinary approaches to organizational challenges. Picking up from Part 1, this discussion illuminates the principles of W. Edwards Deming and other thought leaders in fostering organizationa…

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S5 E1 - Laksh Raghavan - Multidisciplinary Thinking in Complex Systems Part 1 38:17

11M ago38:17

38:17

In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I welcome back cybersecurity expert and systems thinker Laksh Raghavan. Laksh explores how multidisciplinary thinking bridges the gap between theory and practice in solving complex problems. The discussion begins with Laksh's professional journey, highlighting his early dissatisfaction with conventional cons…

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S4 E28 - Dr. Bill Bellows - Bridging Deming, DevOps, and the Power of Systems Thinking Part 2 37:55

1y ago37:55

37:55

In this second part of my conversation with Dr. Bill Bellows, we continue our deep dive into the profound concepts of W. Edwards Deming and their modern applications in leadership, systems thinking, and operational excellence. Dr. Bellows brings his wealth of experience and insight to tackle complex questions about embedding systems thinking within…

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S4 E27 - Dr. Bill Bellows - Bridging Deming, DevOps, and the Power of Systems Thinking Part 1 41:05

1y ago41:05

41:05

In this episode, I engage with Dr. Bill Bellows in a deep dive into the application of W. Edwards Deming’s systems thinking in software development and DevOps. Dr. Bellows, a veteran in quality management and an expert in Deming’s principles, shares insights on variation, Taguchi loss functions, and the synthesis of parts in a system to highlight g…

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S4 E26 - An Important In2:In Thinking Announcement 9:54

1y ago9:54

9:54

In this short episode, I reconnect with Dr. Bill Bellows, a frequent guest and advocate for W. Edwards Deming's principles. The conversation focuses on reviving the In2:In Thinking Network, a nonprofit Dr. Bellows co-founded to improve how individuals and organizations work, learn, and think together. Dr. Bellows discusses the origins of the networ…

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S4 E25 - Dr. David Woods - Resilience and Complexity: Part Two 48:37

1y ago48:37

48:37

In this second installment of my conversation with Dr. David Woods, we continue our exploration of resilience engineering and complexity science, focusing on practical applications and actionable strategies. Building on the foundational concepts from part one, Dr. Woods offers deeper insights into how organizations can thrive in unpredictable envir…

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S4 E24 - Dr. David Woods - Resilience and Complexity: Part One 47:21

1y ago47:21

47:21

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. David Woods, a leading expert in resilience engineering and complexity science, for the first of a two-part conversation. Together, we explore the interplay between resilience, complexity, and systems thinking, diving into how these principles intersect with W. Edwards Deming’s transformative ideas on quality an…

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S4 E23 - Tracy Ragan - Tackling DevOps, AI, and Women in Tech 56:32

1y ago56:32

56:32

In this episode, I invite Tracy Ragan, CEO of DeployHub, on the podcast for an in-depth discussion on the evolution of DevOps, the complexities of modern software systems, and the cultural challenges women face in technology. Tracy's rich history in software development, from working on mainframes in the late 1980s to spearheading DevOps advancemen…

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S4 E22 - Dr. Jabe Bloom - Navigating the Myths and Realities of AI with Pragmatism 1:09:51

1y ago1:09:51

1:09:51

In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jabe Bloom, a researcher and expert in systems thinking, AI, and digital transformation. We explore Eric Lawson’s book The Myth of AI, tackling the contentious debate around artificial general intelligence (AGI). Dr. Bloom offers insights from his dissertation and divides the ongoing disc…

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S4 E21 - Erik J. Larson - The Myth of AI and Unravelling The Hype 1:04:25

1+ y ago1:04:25

1:04:25

In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I speak with Erik J. Larson, author of The Myth of Artificial Intelligence, about the speculative nature and real limitations of AI, particularly in relation to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Larson delves into the philosophical and scientific misunderstandings surrounding AI, challenging t…

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S4 E20 - Dr. Jabe Bloom - Navigating Complexity with Pragmatic Philosophy 1:05:27

1+ y ago1:05:27

1:05:27

In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I have an enlightening conversation with Dr. Jabe Bloom, a prominent voice in the fields of DevOps and digital transformation. The discussion revolves around the philosophical underpinnings of scientific reasoning and its application to complex systems, particularly through the lens of Charles Sanders Peirce…