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Monthly Edition • May 2026
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MoreNews
ABOUT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
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What's the Hype Around Agentic AI and What Changes When You Use It
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What changes when AI stops answering questions and starts doing work?
In this article, MoreSteam VP of Marketing Lindsay Van Dyne explores the growing world of Agentic AI and why it represents a fundamentally different way of working with artificial intelligence. Rather than simply generating ideas or recommendations, agentic systems can plan, execute tasks, interact with tools, and produce completed work with human oversight.
Drawing on real examples, we'll examine how AI is shifting from assistant to teammate and what that means for continuous improvement professionals.
If you're trying to understand how AI may reshape the way work gets done, this is a valuable place to start.
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NEW EPISODE
Scary Statistics Made Simple with Thomas DeMarco
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On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, Thomas DeMarco joins the show. Thomas is MoreSteam’s Principal Statistician and has spent his career helping people make sense of data, from supporting engineers and operators at Eastman Chemical to developing statistical tools for continuous improvement professionals. He and host Dan Swartwout discuss why teams get into trouble when they skip the fundamentals, how intimidating statistical concepts become easier to understand when explained clearly, and why understanding what your data is actually telling you is one of the most important skills in process improvement.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
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NEW BLOG
The Blue Book Test for Lean Six Sigma Certification
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AI has made it easier than ever to pass an online exam without truly understanding the material. In this perspective piece, MoreSteam CEO Bill Hathaway argues that the same challenge now applies to Lean Six Sigma certification. While exams can assess knowledge, Bill makes the case that successful project work remains the strongest measure of improvement capability. If certification is intended to signal someone's ability to lead meaningful improvement work, then demonstrated results should remain the standard that matters most.
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FURTHER READING
Some Hazardous Ideas About Statistical Process Control
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In this insightful Quality Digest article, Donald J. Wheeler challenges several common misconceptions about Statistical Process Control that continue to circulate decades after they were first introduced. From the belief that SPC requires perfect data to the notion that SPC becomes unnecessary once a process is stable, Wheeler explains why these ideas can lead teams to misuse data and miss valuable opportunities for improvement.
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August 5–7, 2026, we'll host the 24th Annual Best Practices for Operational Excellence Conference (BP4OPX) in Columbus, Ohio. This invitation-only event brings together senior leaders from across industries for three days of learning, networking, and best-practice sharing.
Know a senior leader who would benefit from attending BP4OPX 2026? Reply to this email and we'd be happy to offer a personal invitation.
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MASTER SERIES
Mapping for Continuous Improvement
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Join MoreSteam President Peg Pennington this fall for a new three-part virtual Master Series on mapping for continuous improvement. You cannot improve what you do not see, and too often teams rush to fix isolated pieces of a process without first understanding how the work connects as a system. In this program, you will learn how to select the right mapping technique for the problem at hand and use those insights to support improvement decisions. Through guided practice and real-world examples, you will build practical mapping skills using core mapping tools like SIPOC, process maps, and value stream maps, and earn a digital certificate of completion.
September 8, 15, 22, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
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UPCOMING EVENT
Leadership Summit: Managing on Purpose Using Hoshin Kanri
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Join Mark Reich, Senior Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute, at MoreSteam Headquarters for a two-day workshop focused on Hoshin Kanri, a proven approach for aligning strategy with day-to-day execution. Through hands-on case studies, guided application, and real-world examples, participants will learn how to connect long-term objectives to daily work, build organizational alignment, and create accountability around the initiatives that matter most.
September 9-10, 2026 | Columbus, Ohio
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CURRICULUM UPDATES
Master Black Belt and Lean Master
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Continuous improvement applies to training, too. We've recently refreshed our Master Black Belt and Lean Master curricula with updated examples, expanded advanced statistical content, and deeper instruction on advanced applications of Black Belt-level tools. These enhancements are designed to help experienced practitioners continue building the analytical and problem-solving capabilities needed to lead complex improvement efforts.
Interested in learning more about these curriculum enhancements? Reach out to Peg Pennington at ppennington@moresteam.com to discuss how they can support capability development within your organization.
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Copyright 2026 MoreSteam.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
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