ABOUT | Sagacity System

about sagacity systems consultants

WHO WE ARE

Our team is comprised of independent partners. We’re a diverse, energetic, and recognized Continuous Process/Performance Improvement (CPI) practitioners with over $800M in cost savings and cost avoidance. We have a combined experience of over 95 years in change management, strategic planning, process improvement, business process re-engineering, and systems optimization applying Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Theory of Constraints (TOC), and Project Management.

We don’t focus solely on the improvement of processes; we emphasize changing the thought patterns and behaviors of employees to ensure gains are sustained and your company is continuously improving. We synergize operational excellence and change management into one creating a flow-state within your people.

OUR RESULTS

Performed and/or coached more than 400 kaizen workshops, 50 value stream mapping and analysis events, 50 Lean Six Sigma projects. Guided employees and coached management through improvement transformations.
Performed over 50 strategic planning sessions. Led an organization wide strategic planning with over 120 people while guiding 10 LSS Black Belts; coached executive management through the creation of Strategic Roadmap, improvement framework and change management.
Redesigned value streams and implemented lean standard work achieving cost savings of $10M for Seawolf and Trident class submarines, $20M for Crane Program and $25M for US aircraft carriers repair and modernization and cost avoidance of $256M for Foreign Military Sales.
Re-engineered processes for Bank Secrecy Act/Anti Money Laundering Operations and Governance delivering cost savings of $3.6M.
Trained through certification more than 300 Green Belts and 200 LSS Black Belts.

meet the team

ABIGAIL MCDOWELL

Founder + Principal

Abigail has over 21 years of experience with the federal government and banking industry; emphasis in continuous process improvement (CPI) and public administration of federal government policies, and regulations and anti-money laundering polices respectively. Abigail is a recipient of the coveted Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award (2018) and Kitsap Business Journal Forty Under Forty Award (2012). Outside of work Abigail can be found outdoors hiking, SUP-ing, traveling and spending time with her teenage daughter and family.

Managed a production department of over 1300 people, including: engineers, project managers, administrative staff, business analysts, quality professionals, data scientists, logisticians and production labor.

Trained and proficient in public speaking, oral communication, facilitation, project management, Shingo’s Discover Excellence leadership training, TOC and Critical Chain Project Management.

CPI professional with a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification. Personal accomplishments have accumulated more than $38M in direct cost savings and $260M in cost-avoidance. Co-led a team of 19 facilitators (MBBs, BBs, GBs) in facilitating a diverse group of 120 production professionals through an Executive Planning Session to develop an organizational plan to transform into a Value Stream Management structured environment. Successfully mentored and qualified over 15 LSS Black Belts and 30 LSS Green Belts.

JOSEPH MAEZ

Lead Consultant

Joseph has more than 40 years of professional experience; three years production labor supervision, 20 years military (Navy) nuclear operation and supervision, and 19 years federal civil service in performance improvement. Experienced lean six sigma (LSS) Master Black Belt (MBB) specializing in development and certification of Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belts, Black Belts, Executive Management Improvement Practitioners; and overhaul schedule development and critical-chain project management.

Joseph was a Lean Six Sigma Program Manager for over 11 years. Managed the improvement training and development program for an organization of over 12K personnel. Developed Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt training courses; these courses are still in use today (2022). Assisted in the development (2004) of the NAVSEA Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Black Belt (BB) College curriculum and established the College (2007) in the Pacific Northwest; coordinated the efforts of local, regional, and national commands to provide this training locally. Each class saves our local commands over $250,000.00 in travel and training budgets annually. Instructed classes and trained instructors; managed, guided and mentored, Black Belts through the execution of more than 120 LSS Projects and 300 Kaizen Workshops. Designed and delivered well over 500 one-to-two-hour developmental courses, multiple times, to optimize change management throughout the organization. Developed and mentored four improvement practitioners (BBs) through Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification.

CPI professional with a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification. Personal accomplishments have accumulated more than $65M in direct cost savings and $500M in cost-avoidance. Co-led a team of 19 facilitators (MBBs, BBs, GBs) in facilitating a diverse group of 120 production professionals through an Executive Planning Session to develop an organizational plan to transform into a Value Stream Management structured environment.

LONNIE WEBSTER

Consultant

Lonnie has over 23 years of civil-service experience with an emphasis in Project Management and Continuous Process improvement (CPI). He is a recognized leader and received the Command Excellence in Leadership Award (2018). He is husband to an amazing wife and father to three awesome daughters. They do as much together as possible which includes outdoor fun as well as leading a service-oriented life with a desire to help others improve their lives and their community.

He performs as a coach and mentor (internal consultant) to junior and senior managers. Energetic and enthusiastic about influencing positive continuous improvement behaviors. Developed best practice, standard work operations and sequences, for resource allocation and innovation practices, capitalizing on opportunities for improvement.

Lonnie leads diverse teams in identifying and eliminating waste with a focus on sustainable processes that result in continuous, consistent product flow. Proficient in the planning and execution management of maintenance, repair and overhaul, of navy ships and submarines.

Personal efforts and coaching have resulted in increased throughput, safer work practices, and improved first-pass yield and quality. Successfully mentored more than 35 supervisors, 12 maintenance managers and two program managers. Program improvements have been implemented navy wide.

ABBIE CATES

Consultant

Abbie Cates has 20 years of professional experience in highly technical, compliance demanding fields with a MS in Chemical Engineering under her belt. Through that time, she has specialized in project and program management for the nuclear engineering industry, the food manufacturing industry, and information technology industry. Her experiences include local and federal government as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. Abbie adapts easily to new industries because of her strong foundation in listening, analyzing project details, and her ability to quickly form relationships with people.

Abbie has an innate ability to listen to customer needs and help them shape their vision into an actionable plan. She is an expert at integrating long-term strategy with operational taskings while building in personnel accountability and follow through. She firmly believes that every problem has a solution. Non-judgmental
listening and conversation are her two key tools to guide in finding the solution. She enjoys learning from people as much as she enjoys sharing her knowledge. For her, relationships are what make programs and projects successful.