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February Lean Leader Meeting at Bahri Dental Group

  • 02/12/2026
  • 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • 8131 Baymeadows Circle West, Jacksonville, FL 32256
  • 2
  • 13 registrants

Registration

  • Lunch included.
  • Includes lunch.
Registration is closed

Jacksonville Lean Consortium Lean Leader Meeting: Bahri Dental Group


Hosted by Bahri Dental Group | February 12, 2026 | Jacksonville, FL
Capacity
Limited to 18 attendees
Pricing
Free for Lean Jax members | $100 for non-members
Lunch
Included (First Watch)
Focus
One-patient flow, leveling, visual management, daily problem-solving
See One-Patient Flow in Action
The Jacksonville Lean Consortium returns to Bahri Dental Group—a practice that transformed from traditional batch-and-queue operations to one-patient flow. The practice has become a global case study, featured by the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership, and visited by organizations from around the world.
Dr. Sami Bahri is the author of Follow the Learner (now published as The Lean Dentist), which won the 2010 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award. He pioneered the application of Lean principles in dentistry, demonstrating that Lean thinking works beyond manufacturing—even in high-variation, service-based environments where many say it can't.
Event Format
•
Opening Presentation
We'll start with Dr. Bahri sharing how his practice transformed over the past three decades and what he learned about leadership along the way.
•
Gemba Walk
Then we'll walk through the facility to see one-patient flow in action—how the flow manager orchestrates provider movement using kanban, how production leveling smooths the workflow, and how visual management supports daily problem-solving.
•
Q&A Discussion
After the gemba walk, you'll have time to ask Dr. Bahri about the system, implementation challenges, and how these concepts might apply to your own environment.
•
Problem-Solving Session over Lunch
We'll wrap up with a working lunch at First Watch, facilitated by James Bussell, Executive Director of Lean Jax. We'll reflect on what we observed, discuss how the concepts connect to challenges you're facing, and use scientific thinking to work through problems together. You'll be challenged to identify an experiment you can take back and test in your own work.
Come ready with one real challenge
Bring a current issue (flow, capacity, handoffs, delays, rework). You’ll leave with a clear experiment to run back home.
The Context
Dr. Bahri started this journey in 1996 after reading Lean Thinking by Womack and Jones. He spent years figuring out how to apply these concepts to a dental practice—a setting Toyota's founders never imagined. There was no playbook. He developed his approach through first-principles thinking, experimentation, and a relentless focus on patient value.
The results:
✓ 40% of resources freed for growth while maintaining output.
✓ Patient wait times eliminated through one-patient flow.
✓ Complete treatment in single visits—crowns, root canals, fillings, surgery, and cleanings done in one appointment.
✓ Synchronized team workflow using kanban and production leveling.
✓ Systematic problem-solving embedded in daily operations.
✓ Continuous improvement that hasn't just sustained but continues to raise the bar over nearly three decades.
His practice has been studied by organizations worldwide because it challenges assumptions about where Lean can work. The lessons translate to manufacturing, healthcare, service industries, and knowledge work. If you've heard "our work is too complex" or "we're not like manufacturing," this visit offers both proof and practical insight.
What You'll Experience
You'll see how a practice moved from batch processing to continuous flow in a high-variation environment, developed systems that support daily problem-solving, and continues to raise the bar through leadership and systematic thinking.
Whether you're implementing Lean in your own organization or supporting others on their journey, you'll leave with fresh perspectives and actionable ideas.
About Dr. Sami Bahri
Dr. Bahri has been practicing dentistry in Jacksonville since 1990 and is co-founder of Bahri Dental Group. He was recognized as the "World's First Lean Dentist" at the Shingo Prize Conference in 2007. His book has become essential reading for Lean practitioners and team members across all industries—from healthcare and service environments to manufacturing.
Who Should Attend
• People working on flow problems in manufacturing, healthcare, or service operations.
• Managers trying to reduce lead times and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Anyone implementing Lean who gets pushback that "we're different."
• Leaders responsible for operational performance and team development.
• Practitioners who want to see how Lean concepts translate across industries.
About Lean Jax
The Jacksonville Lean Consortium is a member-driven nonprofit helping Northeast Florida organizations implement and sustain Lean Thinking. Through shared learning, site visits, and collaborative workshops, Lean Jax connects practitioners committed to continuous improvement.
Register Now
Limited to 18 attendees.
Free for Lean Jax members | $100 for non-members
Lunch included



9802-12 Baymeadows Road #134
Jacksonville, FL 32256

Jacksonville Lean Consortium is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 

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