Episode 67: Digital Twin For Continuous Improvement With Michael Schank

On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, author and entrepreneur Michael Schank joins the show. Michael spent 13 years at Accenture and 10 years at EY before leading Process Excellence for the US Consumer Bank at Citibank. In that role, he had responsibility over elements of process mapping, business process improvement, and a specific Lean team. Later, Michael wrote the book Digital Transformation Success. He is also the founder and CEO of Insight Twin, a company that leverages AI to build a digital twin of an entire organization.

After revealing a startling statistic about the success of transformation projects, Michael breaks down his Process Inventory framework with host Dan Swartwout. Process Inventory is the list of things that people actually do. From there, Michael discusses the concept of "digital twin," which is a new topic for Quality Time with MoreSteam. A digital twin of an organization is a virtual replica of everything an organization actually does. Put those two ideas together, and transformation leaders know exactly who owns what. Everyone from the Lean team to IT to risk management works off the exact same picture of the business. Why is that important? Did you hear about the medical device company that paid consultants $92 million for an ERP overhaul that resulted in the company losing $2 billion in market value? If you haven't, Michael's got the details.

This episode explores how Process Inventory and digital twin connect to the tools you already use, like fishbone diagrams, the five whys, and DMAIC. As a Process Excellence veteran, Michael understands continuous improvement. He also understands leadership, storytelling, and what it takes for continuous improvement to… well… continuously improve!

As always, because this is Quality Time with MoreSteam, there are fun detours into 80's teen comedies, Three's Company episodes, and the optimum laughs-per-minute in a standup comedy set.

We're talking about digital twin! So double your pleasure, double your fun, and download this episode to learn how a shared language around process can save your next transformation project from becoming the cautionary tale on a future podcast.

In this episode, you will hear about:

1:22 - Michael's background in consulting, banking, and process excellence

2:40 - 70% of transformation projects fail to meet their goals

4:17 - What a Process Inventory actually is

7:45 - Vertical alignment versus horizontal alignment

9:37 - What a digital twin is and where the concept came from

12:20 - The $92 million ERP disaster that cost a company $2 billion in market value

15:30 - How digital twin relates to process modeling

17:56 - Building trust with employees during a Process Inventory interview

19:02 - Digital twins in different industries, like banks and hospitals

23:02 - Michael's time as Head of Process Excellence at Citibank

29:04 - Writing Digital Transformation Success

35:08 - How Michael discovered Process Inventory

38:24 - Keeping Lean, risk, and technology teams on the same page

39:18 - What causes continuous improvement programs to stall

41:52 - Insight Twin and AI

46:39 - Laughs per minute

Additional Resources:

Michael Schank on LinkedIn

Insight Twin

Michael's book "Digital Transformation Success"

The Insight Twin Playbook

MoreSteam's Introduction to Process Modeling Webinar

QTWM: Simulating Success with Dr. Lars Maaseidvaag

QTWM: Solving Healthcare Bottlenecks with Process Modeling

MoreSteam's YouTube Channel

Quality Time With MoreSteam on Facebook

Quality Time With MoreSteam on Instagram

Quality Time With MoreSteam on LinkedIn

MoreSteam's Website

Subscribe to MoreSteam's Newsletter

MoreSteam on LinkedIn

Dan Swartwout on LinkedIn

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Dan Swartwout

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.

Dan Swartwout Full Bio

Michael Schank

Founder and CEO • Insight Twin

Michael Schank is a transformation leader and innovator with over 25 years of experience in Financial Services, where he has guided organizations through complex digital and operational change as a trusted consultant and executive.

(Bio and photo from https://insighttwin.com/about)


Process ModelingProcess ImprovementDiscrete Event SimulationLean Methods, Design, and ModelingDesign Thinking

Use Technology to Empower Your Continuous Improvement Program