0208. It’s Not The Science — It’s The System Lean By Design podcast

0208. It’s Not the Science — It’s the System

3d ago 54:51

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Why Operational Excellence is Biopharma’s Next Competitive Advantage

In this special cofounder episode of Lean by Design, Oscar Gonzalez and Lawrence Wong pull back the curtain on the ideas behind Oscar’s upcoming book—and the operational realities that inspired it.

The core message? The biggest risks in biopharma often don’t come from the science. They come from fragile systems, tribal knowledge, and disconnected processes that silently slow teams down or bring them to a grinding halt.

With over 30 years of combined experience spanning R&D, clinical ops, and facilities management, Oscar and Lawrence unpack:

Why innovation collapses without operational infrastructure
How legacy behaviors and workflow inconsistency compound into massive risk
What “owning a process” really means—and why most orgs get it wrong
How early-stage companies fall into the trap of ad hoc systems and band-aid solutions
Why consistency and connectivity—not heroics—are the foundation for scalable success

Plus, they preview the framework at the heart of Oscar’s forthcoming book: a practical guide for process owners, system stewards, and leaders ready to build resilient operations without boiling the ocean.

If you’ve ever tried to fix a broken workflow while juggling 10 others, or wondered why your cross-functional projects keep stalling—this episode is for you!

Join the book waitlist: https://sigmalabconsulting.fillout.com/t/cjWN43iBNWus

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Operational Excellence (00:00:00)

2. Writing a Book: The Journey Begins (00:05:13)

3. Systems Thinking: The Core Philosophy (00:13:20)

4. Data Flow and Organizational Connectivity (00:21:15)

5. The Three-Stage Framework Explained (00:30:50)

6. Adoption: The Critical Final Stage (00:39:54)

7. Process Ownership and Responsibility (00:48:41)

8. Book Launch Plans and Timeline (00:54:33)

30 episodes