Episode 54: You Can't Spell DMAIC Without AI
AI is making things faster. Find out why that’s not always the same as making things better. On this episode of Quality Time With MoreSteam, Xander Hathaway joins the podcast. Xander studied computer science at Notre Dame. He earned his master's in information and data science from UC Berkeley. And for nearly five years, he has been VP of Product Development at MoreSteam, which means he spends his days thinking about software, Lean, and AI all at once.
That background matters for Xander’s conversation with host Dan Swartwout. Xander and Dan explore the intersection of continuous improvement and artificial intelligence. Speed and improvement are not the same thing, and the gap between them is exactly where continuous improvement lives. Measuring output has always been easier than measuring value. Because of that, faster tools can make it easier to go all in on producing the wrong things. What about standard work and process knowledge? When AI is doing the building, standard work matters more than ever. And process knowledge does not become less important as technology improves. Rather, Xander says the opposite is true. And every system has a tolerance for error. Knowing your tolerance can change how your system is built.
Finally, it’s Quality Time with MoreSteam, so expect a few laughs along the way. In particular, stick around for the birthday story. Nine months later, Dan still can’t explain it. As it turns out, neither can AI.
In this episode, you will hear about:
2:39 - Software engineering and operational excellence
5:07 - The “Gemba” in Software Engineering
6:45 - Using AI to improve the process, not just move faster
8:51 - AI and output metrics
10:12 - AI, software development, and standard work
13:45 - Adopting AI in both operational excellence and technology
16:03 - Dealing with “hallucinations”
20:46 - AI adding complexity to software systems
22:23 - AI predictions in the past versus the future state of AI
26:07 - Rapid AI improvement and deep process knowledge
27:55 - Tips for OpEx leaders as their organizations adopt AI
30:28 - Dan’s baseball story (cliffhanger alert!)
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Using AI to Strengthen Critical Thinking for Continuous Improvement Work
Exploring the Potential of AI in Process Improvement
Creating the Path for Lean IT Transformation
Understanding Process Capability in Real-World Applications
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Host • MoreSteam
Dan Swartwout is the host of Quality Time with MoreSteam. A lifelong Central Ohio resident, Dan is a double Buckeye. He earned both a BA and a law degree from The Ohio State University. Before joining MoreSteam, Dan had a long career as a host, comedian, and master of ceremonies. For 17 years, Dan was the studio audience host for the Ohio Lottery game show Cash Explosion. Dan was also the host of CBuzz, which was a collaboration between the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, WWCD 92.9, and the Columbus Dispatch. On CBuzz, Dan interviewed some of the most prominent entrepreneurs in Central Ohio. From 2002-2020, Dan toured the country as a standup comedian. Tracks from his comedy CD have been played over 5,000 times on Sirius/XM satellite radio. Now, Dan brings his experience and enthusiasm to Quality Time with MoreSteam -- it's business and fun, together.
Vice President of Product Development • MoreSteam
Xander Hathaway leads MoreSteam’s software development team, shaping the strategy, architecture, and technical foundation behind the company’s platform. His work sits at the intersection of software engineering, operational excellence, and applied AI, where he focuses on building systems that help organizations solve problems more effectively at scale.
Before joining MoreSteam, Xander worked as a senior software architect in consulting, where he designed and implemented cloud-based solutions for a wide range of clients. This experience informs his practical, systems-oriented approach to product development today.
Xander is an active contributor to the operational excellence community, having presented at leading industry conferences including POMS, IISE Annual Conference, and ASQ events. He holds a Master of Information and Data Science from University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in Computer Science from University of Notre Dame.
