Show notes
May 26, 2025
In this ScaleUp Club exclusive Q&A edition of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Tom Hughes, CEO of Gemba Docs, for a practical and eye-opening discussion on Lean Thinking for SMEs. Tom brings decades of experience in operational excellence and process improvement and shares how small businesses can adopt lean principles without over-complicating things.
This session breaks down what lean really looks like in a small business context – and it’s not about cutting costs or mimicking manufacturing giants. It’s about reducing struggle, improving value flow, and making work life better for your team. From leadership behaviours to team rituals, Tom shares real-world tactics that any SME can start using today.
Episode Highlights:
- Why the traditional 8 wastes don't always translate to service businesses – and what to focus on instead
- The biggest enabler of lean success? Leadership behaviour and priorities
- How to kickstart a lean journey: Start with yourself, then pull others in
- The power of small wins and team celebrations to build momentum
- Simple tools that make a difference: team huddles, improvement channels, and documenting processes with Gemba Docs
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For now, continue listening for the full discussion with Tom.
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Most founders I speak to feel busy but stuck; plenty happening, but not always clear on what genuinely matters most this quarter. If that’s you, the G90 Summit is worth a look. A structured half-day where we work through everything competing for your attention, get clear on the three to five things that must happen in the next 90 days, then commit to them and build the system to make sure they actually happen. Quarterly, virtual, £97 a seat.
Tom can be found here:
linkedin.com/in/tom-hughes-7222562
Resources:
2 Second Lean Book by Paul Akers - https://paulakers.net/books/2-second-lean
Lean Made Simple by David Sykes - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/lean-made-simple-creating-pull-and-flow-david-sykes/4914053?ean=9781716549724
Improvement Starts With I by Tom Hughes - https://improvementstartswithi.com/
Ryan Tierney - Lean Mde Simple YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@leanmadesimple