GA 622 | The State of AI with Steven Remsen
•March 5, 2026
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Why It Matters
Modernizing CI programs with AI‑enabled, people‑centric approaches can unlock significant ROI and keep enterprises competitive as digital transformation accelerates.
Key Takeaways
- •Intel’s Lean Six Sigma program generated $600M ROI over five years.
- •Shifted from mandatory certification to enablement and capability platform.
- •Integrated marketing, user experience, and mentorship to boost participation.
- •Emphasized tool‑agnostic approach, combining analytics, AI, and change management.
- •Highlighted need for balanced utility versus absolute correctness in CI.
Summary
The Gemba Podcast episode features Steve Remsen, a former Intel continuous‑improvement leader, discussing how Lean Six Sigma evolved within a high‑tech environment and how it intersects with emerging AI tools. Remsen recounts his transition from a physicist‑scientist to an enterprise‑wide consultant, overseeing Intel’s internal Lean Six Sigma program for nearly a decade and ultimately closing the last Fortune‑50 certification operation.
Remsen explains that the program’s greatest impact came after it shifted from a mandated certification factory to an enablement‑focused capability platform. By applying marketing research, user‑experience principles, and one‑on‑one mentorship, the initiative generated roughly $600 million in ROI over five years. He also stresses a tool‑agnostic mindset, blending process‑mining, predictive analytics, and generative AI with proven change‑management frameworks such as Prosci and Kotter.
A recurring theme is the balance between utility and absolute correctness, echoed in his favorite George Bach quote: “All mottos are wrong, but some are useful.” Remsen warns against cheap, credential‑only certifications that erode the methodology’s reputation, emphasizing instead that real value emerges when people, processes, and technology are aligned.
For organizations today, the conversation underscores that continuous‑improvement programs must evolve into adaptable, value‑driven platforms that integrate AI, prioritize measurable business outcomes, and invest in people development. Companies that cling to rigid, hammer‑and‑nail approaches risk obsolescence, while those that adopt Remsen’s hybrid model can sustain competitive advantage in an AI‑augmented landscape.
Original Description
This week’s guest is Steven Remsen. Ron and Steven discussed Steven’s time at Intel, how to make change “stick” at a large organization, what Steven sees organizations struggling with, the current state of AI, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here (https://traffic.libsyn.com/lssacademy/GA_622_Steven_Remsen__mixdown.mp3) .
In this episode you’ll learn:
• The quote that inspires Steven (1:57)
• Steven’s background (3:03)
• What he saw at Intel (6:42)
• The certification factory (9:15)
• Some of the changes they made (11:01)
• Making things “stick” across a large organization (16:38)
• What’s next for Steven and what organizations are struggling with (19:30)
• The state of AI (21:57)
Podcast Resources
• Right Click to Download this Podcast as an MP3 (https://traffic.libsyn.com/lssacademy/GA_622_Steven_Remsen__mixdown.mp3)
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What Do You Think?
What do YOU think it takes to make a change “stick” at an organization?
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