What is the real role of process improvement when more and more work is done by AI?
In this episode, Andrzej Kinastowski is joined by Zuzanna Pamuła – Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Process Transformation Manager at Office Samurai – to explore how process excellence is practiced today in large organizations, and why it still matters.
We talk about what has changed since the early days of lean projects: what tools we now use, how automation reshaped the work of business analysts, and how much of the “old school” thinking is still relevant – sometimes more than ever.
Real-world tools, not just theory
Zuzanna shares examples from her experience across UBS, Heineken, Lundbeck, and now Office Samurai. We look at how tools like productivity mining can support large-scale analysis without manual effort, and how Microsoft Copilot, Teams, and Outlook are being used to speed up repetitive work – without removing the need for expertise or good judgment.
Why CI is making a comeback
There’s also a broader question in the background: what happens when organizations go too fast into automation, without first standardizing their processes? Many teams are now coming back to continuous improvement methods after realizing that automation alone doesn’t solve the deeper issues. We discuss why that’s happening, and what the right balance looks like.
Starting a CI career in a world shaped by AI
For anyone building a career in business analysis or process transformation, Zuzanna also shares practical advice on where to start, how to learn by doing, and what skills are worth developing – even in a world shaped by AI.
In this episode:
🔸 What’s changed (and what hasn’t) in process excellence
🔸 How productivity mining and GenAI tools are being used today
🔸 When automation makes sense and when it doesn’t
🔸 Why more companies return to lean, CI and harmonization
🔸 Practical advice for new process analysts
