In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Jared Ragozzine, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, to explore how companies can turn everyday frontline ideas into real, measurable wins—and build a culture of continuous improvement that actually sticks.

🔥 Key Takeaways & Moments:

• The Birth of the A6 System – Why sticky notes and suggestion boxes weren’t cutting it—and what made the A6 card different.
• CI That Doesn’t Fizzle Out – How to embed improvement into daily work with visual systems, team rituals, and just-in-time prioritization.
• Why Leadership Must Approve Time to Improve – Jared breaks down why CI stalls without structured time and sponsorship.
• Scaling Culture Through Boards, Not Emails – How visible systems like the A6 help ideas scale without becoming noise.
• How to Handle “Bad” Ideas the Right Way – A real-life coaching moment on protecting culture while maintaining standards.
• Lean Beyond Manufacturing – Jared’s framework for applying CI principles to services, knowledge work, and office teams.

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Kevin Clay, founder of Six Sigma Development Solutions and author of Why They Fail, to explore why most Lean and CI efforts fall short—and how to build a culture where they actually thrive.

🔥 Key Takeaways & Moments:

• From Fired to Founder – Kevin’s journey started with getting fired for speaking up about process issues. That rebellious streak became the foundation for building a CI training company with a global reach.

• Why Green Belts Fail – Discover the real reason training doesn’t stick: lack of infrastructure, executive support, and strategic project alignment—not the trainees themselves.

• Buckets & Biases – Kevin explains why separating Lean and Six Sigma is a mistake—and why your industry background might be hurting, not helping.

• The Project Hopper Concept – Learn how organizations can manage improvement projects with purpose by creating a prioritized backlog tied to KPIs and strategic goals.

• How to Train for Real ROI – It’s not about mass training or certifications—it’s about strategic momentum projects and top-down clarity.

• The Role of Executives in CI – If leaders don’t define the KPIs, prioritize the right projects, and model the behavior, the initiative will fail—no matter how many belts you train.

• Why “Go Find a Project” Is a Red Flag – Kevin shares the most common signs that a CI initiative is set up to fail—and what to do instead.

• CI as Career Fuel – Hear stories of professionals who used Lean Six Sigma to transform their careers—and how the discipline can be a long-term differentiator.

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris welcomes Andrei Anca—author of Lead From Any Seat and a veteran CI leader with two decades of experience driving real improvement in finance, retail, insurance, and manufacturing.

🔥 Key Takeaways & Moments:

• From Retail to Root Cause – Andrei shares how his curiosity and early exposure to big problems in retail operations sparked a lifelong journey in continuous improvement.
• Why CI Programs Lose Momentum – Learn the most common reasons improvement efforts stall (hint: it’s not the tools) and how to embed CI into company culture instead of treating it like a program.
• The Metrics That Undermine Progress – Discover how well-intended KPIs can backfire—and why measuring the wrong things (like productivity on rework) sends teams in the wrong direction.
• Problem Pointers vs Problem Solvers – Andrei breaks down the three types of employees—and how to empower more people to actually solve problems from any role.
• Leading Without a Title – Hear how anyone, regardless of level or department, can lead change by starting small, showing results, and building momentum.
• The Future of CI: AI + EQ – Andrei explores how AI will reshape operational excellence—and why emotional intelligence and change management will become essential CI skills.

In this kickoff episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Lean Accounting expert Nick Katko—author, consultant, and pioneer in connecting finance with continuous improvement.

🔥 Key Takeaways & Moments:

• Nick’s Lean Origin Story – From CFO at Bullard to a champion of Lean transformations, Nick shares how one company’s leap into Lean opened his eyes—and changed everything.
• Why Standard Costing Falls Short – Discover why traditional accounting systems often clash with Lean initiatives and how value stream income statements can transform decision-making.
• The Box Score Breakdown – Learn how Nick’s mentor, Brian Maskell, developed a powerful tool to align operational performance, capacity, and financials.
• Common Pitfalls in Lean Journeys – Nick reveals red flags to watch out for, including cherry-picking tools and losing sight of Lean as a learning culture.
• The ROI of Lean & Creating Capacity – Nick shares how to reframe “cost savings” and make a compelling case for Lean by showing how it improves flow, frees up time, and strengthens customer service.
• Advice for Finance Pros & CI Leaders – Whether you’re in accounting or operations, find out how to build a career in Lean and make your role central to transformation.