Why We Built CI Navigator

From CI Activity to Execution Reliability

These articles extend the themes from the KPI Fireside podcast conversation. The point is not that continuous improvement fails because the tools are wrong. The deeper issue is that tools, training, events, dashboards, and certifications only create value when leaders connect them to a clear business condition, disciplined problem solving, capability building, operating cadence, and follow-through.

In that sense, the question for executives is not simply whether the organization is doing continuous improvement. The better question is whether the operating system is performing differently because of the improvement effort.

The Coaching Gap

One of the more detailed parts of the KPI Fireside conversation involved the development and use of CI Navigator. The story began with a practical question: how can we give people more coaching support when they are applying Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methods between live coaching sessions?

In many training programs, people learn concepts in class and then return to work where the real application begins. That is when the difficult questions arise. Is this really the problem? Is the problem statement too broad? Are we jumping to solutions? Do we have evidence? Are we identifying causes or just symptoms? A participant may need feedback at that moment, but the instructor or coach is not always available.

From Coaching Assistant to CI Navigator

My original working title was the "Darren Coaching Assistant." I quickly decided that was too pretentious, but the concept was useful. The goal was to create an AI-enabled coaching assistant that could provide feedback similar to the kind of feedback I would give when reviewing a problem statement, project charter, or problem-solving thought process.

The idea developed through conversations with a childhood friend who knows a great deal about AI and teaches the subject within his company. We discussed how AI could be used not merely as a general productivity tool, but as a way to support clients in applying the improvement methods they were learning.

Rooted in EMS Material and Coaching Style

CI Navigator is not simply a generic chatbot. The responses are rooted in EMS course materials and are designed in a coaching style. The purpose is not to do the work for the participant. The purpose is to ask better questions, push back on common pitfalls, and help the person think through the problem more clearly.

In the recording, I noted that a few users compared CI Navigator with asking similar questions in a general AI tool and found that the general answers were too generic. That feedback was important. For improvement work, the issue is often not access to information. The issue is knowing how to apply the thinking to a specific business problem.

Why This Saves Time and Improves Access

CI Navigator helps the client because project teams can get feedback more frequently. They do not have to wait for the next scheduled coaching session to ask whether a problem statement is clear or whether they are falling into a common trap. They can access support through the EMS learning platform and receive feedback when they are actually working on the problem.

It also helps EMS because it extends coaching capacity. It does not eliminate live coaching, and it should not. But it can reduce the number of routine questions that require live interaction, allowing live coaching time to focus on higher-value judgment, decision-making, and project direction.

AI Should Support Application, Not Replace Judgment

AI is often discussed as though it will replace professional judgment. I do not see it that way in continuous improvement. AI can help people work faster, summarize information, draft materials, analyze routine patterns, or provide structured feedback. But it does not replace leadership judgment, business context, trust, accountability, or the need to make tradeoffs.

That is why CI Navigator is best understood as a coaching assistant, not a substitute for leaders or CI professionals. It supports the practice of disciplined problem solving. It does not own the business result.

Confidentiality and Practical Use

Keith and I also discussed the practical concern many companies have about using AI with sensitive information. This is especially important for biotech, med device, and other organizations that are careful about proprietary data. CI Navigator is embedded in the EMS learning environment, and the intent is to provide a controlled way for participants to receive feedback without turning improvement work into an uncontrolled public prompt.

The broader lesson is that AI should be introduced thoughtfully. It should be tied to real work, clear use cases, appropriate access, and the operating discipline the organization is trying to strengthen.

The Execution Reliability Lesson

The execution reliability lesson is that capability building requires more than content. People need timely feedback while they are applying the method. CI Navigator was built to close part of that application gap.

AI can make knowledge more available, but execution reliability still depends on whether people apply that knowledge to the right business problems, with leadership ownership, coaching, cadence, and follow-through.

More Stories Behind the Conversation

• Lead Time Reduction and Execution Reliability
• Before You Expand the Facility
• Green Belt Certification and Business Results
• KPI Fireside Podcast: From CI Activity to Executive Execution

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