Art Smalley
Problem-Solving Methodology & AI-Enabled Tools
Art Smalley brings deep problem-solving methodology to LEI's LeanTech initiative and is driving the creation of tech-enabled tools that democratize access to lean practice.
Problem-Solving Methodology & AI-Enabled Tools
Art Smalley brings deep problem-solving methodology to LEI's LeanTech initiative and is driving the creation of tech-enabled tools that democratize access to lean practice.
For decades, learning structured problem-solving meant finding an experienced coach willing to invest in your development, a scarce resource that kept lean capability concentrated in a few organizations. Art is changing that equation. By embedding his problem-solving frameworks into conversational AI, he's creating a "pocket coach" that accelerates personal problem-solving practice and builds capability for effective organizational transformation. This is where he specializes.
Art is one of the first Americans to work for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, where he learned problem-solving from mentors who trained directly under Taiichi Ohno. A lifetime member of the Shingo Prize Academy with two Shingo Publication Awards, he authored Four Types of Problems and co-authored Understanding A3 Thinking, frameworks now embedded in the tools he's building.