Lean to AI: Practical Change Management Lessons - Tom Mentink

In this episode of the Aligned on AI podcast, Karl Jones speaks with Tom Mentink, an operational excellence consultant based in the Netherlands, about why so many technology and AI initiatives struggle to deliver real results.Something that stood out to me in this conversation is how rarely organisations fail because of the technology itself. More often, they fail because people were not brought along in the change. That shift in thinking is critical for any business looking at AI adoption, business transformation, or the future of work.We explore how frameworks like ADKAR provide a practical structure for managing change, but also where they fall short in real-world environments. Tom introduces his ‘Puzzle Pieces for Change’ model, offering a simple but powerful way to ensure organisations are addressing training, systems, understanding, and leadership together.This conversation made me rethink how businesses approach skills development and workforce readiness. It is not about introducing tools. It is about changing behaviours, habits, and ways of working over time.We also discuss how leaders can introduce AI without overwhelming teams, why breaking change into workflows is essential, and how operational excellence principles from Lean still apply in a digital world.If you are thinking about AI adoption in your business, this episode provides a grounded, practical perspective on what actually makes change stick.Topics covered: Practical change management, ADKAR, operational excellence, AI adoption challenges and workforce behaviour change.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Operational Excellence02:54 Understanding Lean Principles05:42 Success and Failure in Improvement Initiatives08:01 The Challenges of Change Management10:41 The ADKAR Model Explained23:28 Navigating Change in Organizations26:07 Navigating Change Management in Organizations27:38 Implementing New Tools and AI in Business34:02 Understanding Workflows for Effective Change36:53 The Role of AI in Operational Management44:34 Embracing AI: Skills and Adoption Challenges47:25 Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits for ChangeLearn more at:https://www.alignedmindsai.comhttps://www.tommentink.com Follow Aligned Minds AI on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/aligned-minds-ai/) for practical AI tips, episode clips, and updates on future episodes of Aligned on AI and if there’s a business leader you think I should invite onto the podcast, drop their name in the comments.#OperationalExcellence #LeanThinking #ChangeManagement #AIAdoption #FutureOfWork #BusinessTransformation #ContinuousImprovement #DigitalTransformation #AlignedOnAI #AlignedMindsAI