Three '90s Movies That Changed My Life… and Turned Me LEAN

Let’s be honest: most people don’t discover a passion for Industrial Engineering by watching explosions and car chases. But for me, that’s exactly how it happened.

This isn’t your usual blog post about Lean tools or Six Sigma methodologies. This is about how a few gritty, stylish '90s action movies quietly taught me lessons in leadership, planning, and systems thinking—long before I knew what those words even meant.

Sometimes inspiration strikes in boardrooms. Sometimes it shows up in textbooks. And sometimes, it hits you with car chases, covert missions, and sharp dialogue. For me, it was a handful of high-stakes thrillers from the 1990s—Ronin, Heat, and The Jackal—that first made me think seriously about strategy, systems, and precision.

Looking back, they weren’t just movies. They were early lessons in Lean.

Ronin (1998) – Risk, Redundancy, and the Power of a Plan

“Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. That’s the first thing they teach you.”

Ronin revolves around a group of specialists tasked with a mysterious mission. What stood out to me wasn’t just the action—it was the structure. Every move was planned, every risk considered, every scenario accounted for. But more importantly, they didn’t crumble when the unexpected happened. They adapted, with shared understanding and calm precision.

There’s also something powerful in the way the team worked together. Each member brought unique expertise and was treated as an essential contributor. There was mutual respect without ego, and you constantly saw them asking questions—challenging assumptions, seeking clarity, and ensuring alignment. It was clear that leadership wasn’t just about control, but about building a culture of accountability and continuous learning.

If Ronin were a workplace, it’d be one where nobody’s afraid to ask, “Why are we doing it this way?”—and that’s exactly the kind of workplace where Lean thrives.

Lean Takeaway: Ronin reflects the mindset of robust process design—plans that are strong not because they’re rigid, but because they’re built to adjust. It speaks to risk mitigation, contingency planning, and the importance of shared mental models. It also reminds us of the value of psychological safety, where people feel empowered to ask, challenge, and refine the plan—because that’s how great teams stay aligned and agile.

Bottom line: Smart plans don’t just survive change—they’re designed for it.

Heat (1995) – Flow, Focus, and Functional Teams

“Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat…”

In Heat, the crew executes a heist with stunning coordination. Each member has a role, each task is timed, and everything is aligned for efficiency. There’s no excess motion, no unclear responsibilities. It’s the closest thing to watching a value stream unfold on screen.

Their success hinges on constant communication and real-time feedback. Every member is in sync, verifying timing, adjusting based on the environment, and keeping quality and precision high—because one mistake disrupts the whole operation. The crew doesn’t just follow a plan; they actively monitor and manage it as it unfolds.

If Ronin was about “what if things go wrong?”, Heat is about making sure nothing does—and when your job quality depends on seconds and positioning, you learn fast why communication is a Lean pillar.

Of course, things eventually fall apart—and when they do, it’s due to a breakdown in discipline and communication. That failure, too, is a lesson.

Lean Takeaway: Heat shows us the power of process flow, role clarity, and eliminating waste—not just in time or materials, but in distraction and ego. It’s a cinematic case study in the importance of well-trained, cross-functional teams executing against a shared plan. And it reminds us what happens when people abandon standard work or lose communication under pressure.

Key takeaway: Precision and communication aren’t extras—they’re essential to getting the job done right.

The Jackal (1997) – Kaizen, Iteration, and Error-Proofing

“I need something custom. I need precision. I need this to be flawless.”

The Jackal might seem like a pure action thriller, but watch closely and you’ll see a masterclass in continuous improvement. The antagonist builds a weapon from scratch—designing, testing, refining, and rehearsing every step of the process. It’s disturbingly methodical and, frankly, very Lean.

From modifying equipment to testing in the field, this film shows how iteration—though driven by a dark purpose—can result in error-proof execution.

And yes, this is possibly the only time Kaizen and Bruce Willis will appear in the same sentence.

Lean Takeaway: This movie is all about Kaizen, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles, and mistake-proofing. It illustrates how even a complex, high-risk process can be made smooth and repeatable through trial, measurement, and feedback.

Core lesson: Test everything, refine often, and aim for flawless execution through continuous improvement.

If These Movies Were Lean Tools…

Ronin would be your FMEA worksheet — built on scenario planning and risk thinking.

Heat would be a value stream map — every step visible, timed, and optimized.

The Jackal would be a Kaizen event — lots of small iterations toward one big (hopefully less destructive) goal.

Why It All Mattered

I didn’t know what Industrial Engineering was when I first watched these films. But they sparked a curiosity: Why do some systems work so well under pressure, while others fall apart? How do great teams function? How do the best plans adapt? That curiosity led me to Industrial Engineering, Lean, Six Sigma, and ultimately to a career focused on solving those exact questions across healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond.

Movies taught me early on that great execution is never an accident. Whether it's a bank heist or a patient discharge process, what looks effortless is often the result of smart design, deliberate roles, and continuous refinement.

Fun fact: I rewatch these movies every few years—not just for the action, but to see what new Lean lens I bring to them each time.

Your Turn

What’s a movie, book, or show that unexpectedly taught you something useful in your work or personal growth?

Let’s hear your stories. Drop a comment or message me—I’d love to know what shaped your thinking.

Or hey… do you also secretly think De Niro would make a great Lean consultant?