KPI Fireside: A Continuous Improvement Podcast

KPI Fire
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

KPI Fireside is the podcast for business leaders, process improvement professionals, and anyone passionate about making things better. Through insightful interviews with industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers, we explore the stories behind successful Continuous Improvement journeys. Hosted by KPI Fire, this podcast dives deep into Lean Six Sigma, Strategy Execution, KPI Management, and Operational Excellence—helping you overcome obstacles and drive real impact in your organization.

  1. Keith Norris on Lessons In Continuous Improvement

    4D AGO

    Keith Norris on Lessons In Continuous Improvement

    In this special 30th episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris looks back on the most powerful lessons shared across thirty conversations with leaders, thinkers, and change-makers in the world of continuous improvement. From the shop floor to the boardroom, these stories reveal a simple truth — improvement isn’t about tools or projects, but about people, culture, leadership, and daily habits that make progress sustainable. 🔻 Improvement starts with people 🔻 Culture is the real competitive advantage 🔻 Improvement is a team sport — and leaders create the conditions for change 🔻 Improvement is a habit, not a project Whether you’re a CI professional, a people leader, or someone looking to reignite their own improvement journey, this episode is a reflection on what makes continuous improvement stick — and why it always begins with the human side of change. 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire – https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    21 min
  2. Jared Thatcher on Cost Improvement That Doesn't Burn People Out

    OCT 6

    Jared Thatcher on Cost Improvement That Doesn't Burn People Out

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Jared Thatcher, Lean Business Consultant, founder of the Global Lean Summit, and author of Parenting the Lean Way, to explore how companies can drive continuous cost improvement without draining their people. 🔺 Why Lean should never stand for "less employees are needed" 🔺 How to use Lean to build morale, not fear 🔺 The role of leadership in protecting improvement culture 🔺 Practical examples of cost savings that boost engagement 🔺 How to apply Lean thinking to every part of life, from the office to parenting Jared shares real-world stories from his time at Daimler Trucks, Alaska Airlines, and more, showing how respect for people and smart systems thinking lead to sustainable results. 🔗 Connect with Jared Thatcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredthatcher/ 🔗 Explore the Global Lean Summit: https://globalleansummit.com 🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    59 min
  3. Luca Guadagnuolo on Leading Lean Across Cultures

    SEP 29

    Luca Guadagnuolo on Leading Lean Across Cultures

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Luca Giovanni Guadagnuolo, a seasoned consultant and Lean transformation leader with decades of experience driving operational excellence across Europe. Luca shares how his journey began at Whirlpool, why he was drawn to Lean from the start, and what it takes to align people across cultures, industries, and leadership levels. 🔻 How to engage frontline teams with A3 thinking and problem-solving 🔻 Why leadership’s role is to support, not control 🔻 Lessons from rolling out Lean across nine European plants 🔻 How to sustain cultural change long after the consultant leaves 🔻 Why continuous improvement is as natural as drinking water Whether you’re leading a factory, managing a team, or guiding strategy at the executive level, Luca’s insights will help you see Lean as more than tools—it’s about respect, delegation, and unlocking human potential. 🔗 Connect with Luca Guadagnuolo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucaguadagnuolo/ 🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    55 min
  4. Bruce Hamilton on Toast Kaizen and the Power of Teaching Lean Through Story

    SEP 22

    Bruce Hamilton on Toast Kaizen and the Power of Teaching Lean Through Story

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Bruce Hamilton, the legendary “Toast Kaizen” teacher, to explore how storytelling can unlock a culture of continuous improvement. Bruce shares lessons from decades of Lean leadership, why respect for people is the true foundation of TPS, and how even small, inch wide and mile deep improvements can transform an organization. From poka yoke to AI, he shows why the future of Lean is still rooted in everyday learning and respect. 🔻 The story behind Toast Kaizen and why it still resonates today 🔻 The four Lean philosophies that never change: customer first, people as the most valuable resource, go see, and kaizen every day 🔻 Why inch wide, mile deep is the smartest way to build momentum 🔻 How poka yoke turns mistakes into smarter systems 🔻 Where AI fits in and why it should be AI plus people 👉 Listen now and take one small improvement idea from this episode to put into action today. 🔗 Connect with Bruce Hamilton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-hamilton-a09a4616/ 🔗 Explore GBMP: https://www.gbmp.org/ 🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    1h 2m
  5. Cindy Deekitwong on How to Inspire Teams and Connect With Customers

    SEP 15

    Cindy Deekitwong on How to Inspire Teams and Connect With Customers

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Cindy Deekitwong, a global sales and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience across specialty chemicals, semiconductors, healthcare, and packaging. Cindy explains why Lean is more than cost cutting. It is a culture of problem solving and continuous improvement. She highlights the importance of asking the right questions, listening to understand, and motivating teams by starting with “why.” Along the way, she offers powerful examples from manufacturing, medical devices, and packaging that show how small changes can create outsized impact. 🔻 Why value added vs. non value added thinking applies everywhere from gas stations to global supply chains 🔻 How “small is the new big” when it comes to culture change and quick wins 🔻 The leadership shift from telling to empowering and why listening is the first step 🔻 Why continuous improvement must expand beyond the shop floor into sales, marketing, and innovation Whether you are an executive balancing growth and culture, a CI leader coaching teams, or simply curious about how to empower people for lasting improvement, Cindy’s insights will inspire you to look at your work through a new lens. 🔗 Connect with Cindy Deekitwong on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-deekitwong/ 🔗 Explore Aperia Corporation: https://aperia.com/ 🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    55 min
  6. Bob Luna on EQ, NPS, and the Metrics That Drive Real Improvement

    SEP 8

    Bob Luna on EQ, NPS, and the Metrics That Drive Real Improvement

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Bob Luna, a leader who has scaled businesses from $3 million to $500 million across industries like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and even Amazon and Procter & Gamble. With over 30 years of experience, Bob shares why emotional intelligence (EQ) and extreme ownership are just as critical to improvement as value stream maps and throughput metrics. Bob breaks down how to cut through the noise of measuring “30 or 40 things” to focus on the few metrics that truly drive results, like cycle time, defects, and Net Promoter Score (NPS). He also explains how leaders can prepare their teams emotionally and culturally to actually embrace process improvement, not resist it. 🔻 Why customer feedback through NPS can’t just be collected—it has to drive action 🔻 How EQ and ownership accelerate Lean and CI initiatives across every level of an organization 🔻 The hidden cost of poor processes (and why it often eats up 30% of revenue) 🔻 Practical ways leaders can simplify metrics, build capability, and avoid firefighting Whether you’re leading a team of 20 or a company of 20,000, Bob’s insights show how the right mix of people, process, and metrics can turn improvement into real, sustainable growth. 🔗 Connect with Bob Luna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-luna-2b36b68/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    1h 2m
  7. Monika Mangla on How CI is Evolving In The Age of AI

    SEP 1

    Monika Mangla on How CI is Evolving In The Age of AI

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Monika Mangla, Managing Director at Accenture and a global leader in finance and digital transformation, to explore how continuous improvement is evolving in the age of AI. From predictive maintenance in oil and gas to forward-looking financial planning, Monika outlines real-world examples of AI in action, while also addressing the foundations organizations must get right: strong data governance, people readiness, and a culture that empowers decision-making at every level. 🔻 Why AI is accelerating the pace of continuous improvement 🔻 How finance and operations leaders can build stronger cross-functional alignment 🔻 The critical role of data and governance in making AI valuable 🔻 Why employees should see AI as an assistant, not a replacement Whether you’re a CI professional, a finance leader, or simply curious about the future of work, this conversation will challenge how you think about improvement in the AI era. 🔗 Connect with Monika Mangla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-mangla-cfa-320a52/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    59 min
  8. Christine Lavoie on How Great Leaders Build a Culture of Improvement

    AUG 25

    Christine Lavoie on How Great Leaders Build a Culture of Improvement

    In this episode of KPI Fireside, Keith Norris sits down with Christine Lavoie, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Operational Excellence leader, to explore how great leaders create a culture where continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work. Christine shares how curiosity, empowerment, and the right tools help organizations unlock the full potential of their people. Drawing from her journey across industries and her current role at Safelite AutoGlass, Christine highlights what it takes to move beyond process changes and truly build a mindset of improvement. She explains the role leaders play in asking better questions, removing roadblocks, and giving teams the space to solve problems that matter most. 🔻 Why continuous improvement is a mindset, not just a methodology 🔻 The project roles that make real change sustainable 🔻 How leaders can size work between Kaizen and DMAIC effectively 🔻 Practical strategies to sustain change for the long term Whether you are leading a frontline team or driving enterprise-wide transformation, this conversation shows how leaders at every level can build trust, alignment, and results through a culture of improvement. 🔗 Connect with Christine Lavoie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-lavoie-lssbb-2878095b/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

    1h 10m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

KPI Fireside is the podcast for business leaders, process improvement professionals, and anyone passionate about making things better. Through insightful interviews with industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers, we explore the stories behind successful Continuous Improvement journeys. Hosted by KPI Fire, this podcast dives deep into Lean Six Sigma, Strategy Execution, KPI Management, and Operational Excellence—helping you overcome obstacles and drive real impact in your organization.

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