In this episode, I share an interview I had with Andrew Rowe, former CEO and Executive Chairman of AllMed Healthcare Management in Portland, Oregon. After 20 years of leading AllMed through a Lean transformation, he is now focusing his time on bringing Lean and quality principes into the Portland metro area as a community service leader and advocate into government and nonprofits to tackle difficult challenges like homelessness.







He reflects back on his early career in international business, where he adopted lean principles from demanding customers in various global industries while living outside the US. He details his successful turnaround of a Portland ship repair operation by using strategy, process, and people-focused improvements. He transitioned to AllMed, where he applied similar methods to a healthcare services company, incorporating technology for digital workflow optimization. He emphasizes the importance of leadership engagement, employee empowerment, and integrating lean into the operational playbook to achieve lasting transformation. We also cover practical strategies for implementing lean in government and creating a culture of continuous improvement that can sustain itself over time.







Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc6VM13Gs4k



















Links









* Andrew Rowe – LinkedIn







* Email: arowe@purposeful-ventures.com









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Have you ordered the book, “Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba (Volume 2)?” The book is made up of 8 chapters written about experiences from Lean and Six Sigma practitioners, to give you tips and tricks to help you work with nonprofits in your area. All proceeds donated to charity.