Kingman's Equation – John Bicheno

In this episode of Beyond Deming, host James Lawther sits down with Professor John Bicheno of the Lean Enterprise Research Centre (LERC) to unravel the mysteries of Kingman’s Equation and its relevance to management thinking. Together, they debunk the common myth that maximum efficiency comes from running operations at full utilisation, revealing how this approach can actually drive up costs and create massive queues.John explains the non-linear relationship between utilisation and queue length, drawing on real-world examples from manufacturing, service industries, and even motorway traffic. The discussion covers the critical roles of arrival and process variation, the dangers of batching, and the infamous bullwhip effect in supply chains. Listeners will also hear about a simple dice game that brings these concepts to life, and get practical tips for reducing variation and improving flow.Whether you’re a manager, process improvement enthusiast, or just curious about the science behind queues, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice. Plus, John shares his favourite resources for learning more about lean thinking and systems improvement.Tune in to discover why understanding Kingman’s Equation is essential for anyone looking to optimise performance and reduce waste in any organisation.