Lean Simulation at Dish Network

Dish Network has been a highly engaged OpExChange member for nearly two decades, earning recognition as both a Most Engaged Company and Gieselmann Collaborator of the Year. Over the years, they have hosted multiple plant visits, openly sharing their continuous improvement journey—from building a deeply rooted lean culture to developing the systems that sustain it.

In past visits, Dish has provided candid insight into their evolution, including the development of employee career progression plans that drive engagement and retention, their approach to change management during major business transitions, and their continued investment in digital and automation technologies to enhance operations. These sessions have consistently reflected a willingness to share both successes and lessons learned, making them a trusted voice within the OpExChange network.

One of the most impactful tools to come out of this journey is their hands-on lean simulation, used to train every new hire. Through building a “widget,” employees gain a practical, real-world understanding of lean fundamentals from day one—connecting concepts to application in a way that accelerates learning and cultural adoption.

In this four-hour session, Dish Network will bring this training to life through a live demonstration of the simulation. Attendees will actively experience the exercise, gaining not only an understanding of how it works, but why it’s effective. Participants will leave with a clear blueprint for implementing a similar program within their own facilities, along with access to the full presentation and supporting training materials.