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.

🔻 Why suggestion boxes and Kaizen events aren’t enough to sustain improvement

🔻 How the A6 card helps teams capture, prioritize, and act on quick wins

🔻 The key to unlocking frontline engagement (without becoming the bottleneck)

🔻 What leaders must do to support CI—from approving time to doing a Gemba walk

🔻 Why visual management beats spreadsheets when it comes to momentum

🔻 How to build real CI habits with simple rituals, not massive rollouts

Jared shares practical strategies and real-world stories from nearly a decade of coaching teams—from startups to multi-site manufacturers—and shows how a simple 4x6 card is helping frontline employees everywhere turn their ideas into lasting impact.

🔗 Learn more about Engage Forward: https://engage-forward.com

🔗 Connect with Jared on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredragozzine

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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.

🔻 Why most Lean initiatives fail (and how to avoid the common traps)

🔻 The mistake of training belts without building the right infrastructure

🔻 What executives must do to make CI stick—from KPIs to project prioritization

🔻 Why “Go find a project” is a sign of failure

🔻 The role of a “project hopper” and how to align improvement with business goals

🔻 How CI drives real career growth—and how to build programs that last

Kevin shares hard-earned insights from decades of experience training thousands of professionals across industries—from the Army to aerospace—and helps us see how small changes in structure, mindset, and leadership can transform outcomes.

📚 Buy Kevin’s book Why They Fail: https://sixsigmadsi.com/why-they-fail/

🔗 Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssdsi/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

Welcome to KPI Fireside, the podcast where we talk with leaders who make work better through continuous improvement and real problem-solving.

In this episode, Keith Norris is joined by Andrei Anca, author of Lead From Any Seat, to unpack what actually makes CI work—and why most companies get it wrong.

🔻 Why you don’t need a title to lead improvement

🔻 How CI programs lose momentum and how to fix it

🔻 The difference between problem pointers, finders, and solvers

🔻 Why most metrics are misleading—and how to measure what matters

🔻 How AI and change management will shape the future of CI

🔻 The one root cause mistake nearly every team makes

Andrei shares real-world stories and tactics you can use today—whether you're in finance, ops, manufacturing, or tech.

📚 Get the book + free templates: ⁠www.leadfromanyseat.com⁠ 🔗 Connect with Andrei on LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/andreianca⁠ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – ⁠linkedin.com/in/keithnorris⁠

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

Guest: Nick Katko | Host: Keith Norris

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.

💡 Whether you're new to Lean or deep in your CI journey, this episode will shift how you think about operations, accounting, and leadership. Tune in for a thoughtful and practical discussion packed with real-world insights and decades of experience.

🔗 Connect with Us

🌐 Learn more: ⁠https://www.kpifire.com/⁠

📱 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpi-fire

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpifire/