Company Name: KATA Solution, LLC
Employee Name and Role: Bryan Little, Owner and President
How long have you worked here, what do you do, and what do you enjoy about working here?
Bryan Little, Owner and President of KATA Solution
When Bryan Little secured his first job out of high school at Inoac Exterior Systems – a Japanese Tier 1 Toyota supplier in Fremont, Ohio – he didn’t realize it was the key to his future. Yet it was there he discovered a passion for lean methodologies, sparking a career spanning more than 25 years in international business leadership, and the foundation for his new company KATA Solution.
“Toyota came in and trained us, and I had a mentor from Japan,” Little said. “There was a culture to it, it was people-focused, and it was the foundation for everything else they did. “I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.”
He went on to make a career of it.
Before starting KATA Solution, Little worked in international business, spending half of his time in industrial and quality engineering, and half in leadership roles for Bridgestone, Mitec Powertrain, Wurtec, Sanoh-America, and Whirlpool Corp. It was his job to optimize systems, streamline for efficiency, keep people happy, and increase productivity – always identifying what works best and what doesn’t.
Well-versed in lean practices, Little is also a Six Sigma Black Belt – a quality control methodology that aims to reduce defects and improve processes – and holds a Master’s of Operational Excellence from the Fisher College of Business. He launched KATA Solution in 2023 to share all that he has learned.
“I started this business because I want to help other organizations be the best that they can be,” Little said. “I was ready to do something on my own, and I felt it was time for me to help other organizations out. This allows me to combine my passion for helping businesses achieve operational excellence with the joy of making a real impact on leadership teams. Every success feels like a shared victory.”
About the Company
What is produced / created / services offered by the company?
The mission of KATA Solution is, “To empower individuals and organizations to unlock their full potential through expert training, coaching, and problem-solving solutions. We strive to inspire growth, foster innovation, and drive meaningful change.”
In a nutshell, KATA Solution helps businesses streamline processes, enhance quality, and drive impactful results. This is accomplished through training, facilitation, direct placement services, and EOS® implementation.
The EOS® (Entrepreneurial Operating System) model examines, for any type of business, Six Key Components® that must be efficiently managed for success within the EOS® framework. The Six Key Components® are Vision, Data, Process, Traction, Issues and People. More than 275,000 businesses use this model throughout the world, Little said.
“Using this framework, I teach the leadership teams of businesses how to put all of the pieces together because as the leadership team goes so does the rest of the business,” Little said. “For a few examples, when looking at the first component Vision, you’re assessing your core values, core focus, marketing strategy and goals for the next 10 years. In the category of People, you know you will be hiring people and want to promote and reward them based on meeting your core values and vision, and of course you want them to be happy. We then bring the Vision down to everyone in the organization through the last component we call Traction – instilling discipline and accountability throughout the company so that everyone is on the same page and executes the company vision.
“After examining all six components we are able to create a powerful plan to strengthen a company’s processes and focus.”
To start, Little will visit the business owner and leadership teams for a free 90-minute meeting to present an overview of how KATA Solution can help, how EOS® works, and learn about the company. If company leadership would like to continue, it’s a two-year process and fully guaranteed.
The next step is a Focus Day, a full day during which Little teaches companies to use EOS® tools and sets them up for success. After 30 days, he returns for Vision Building Day 1, then after another 30 days, Vision Building Day 2. During the initial year, Little also trains and assists companies to run quarterly and annual meetings, and the second year he continues to help with quarterly meetings as well as a second 2-Day Annual Planning session.
“I emphasize that I am not a consultant,” Little said. “I teach leadership teams how they can use these tools and move forward, and then it’s in their hands – I am out of the picture. I come in to empower leadership teams and then I graduate them from our journey together.”
Beyond EOS®, Little also provides direct staffing services.
“With my experience and knowledge in manufacturing, I offer unique insight in vetting candidates for companies that need them,” he said. “We have had great success in that.”
What is the story behind your company’s name?
Kata is a Japanese word that means “form” in relation to the repetitive movements within karate. Students of karate repeat and practice the motions, or forms, until excellence is achieved.
“…and this transfers into the Toyota world,” Little said. “They have Toyota Kata, a tool used for shop front-line workers to fix their problems. Through repetitive motions in problem solving and establishing root cause and corrective action, they can fix problems on the shop floor.
“In terms of my company, Kata reflects our commitment to guiding leadership teams through continuous improvement to achieve their vision – to unlock their potential through proven strategies.”
Where is your company located? / Why do you see Findlay as a great place to do business?
Little recently moved to Powell, Ohio “after spending 20 wonderful years in Findlay,” to be closer to family. His target market for KATA Solution covers Columbus, Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan. Little offers a unique service – there are no Professional EOS® Implementors in Findlay – and after living and working in Flag City for so long, he is familiar with the community and economic climate and ready to travel.
“Findlay is a fantastic place to do business because of its strong sense of community, thriving economic environment, and strategic location,” Little said. “With a collaborative business culture, access to major transportation routes, and a reputation for being one of the best micropolitan areas in the country, Findlay offers the perfect mix of resources and support for businesses to grow and succeed.
“I would love to be a part of helping Findlay businesses achieve their next level.”
If there were one take-away you would want people to have about your company, what would it be?
“KATA Solution is dedicated to helping leadership teams achieve clarity, focus, and alignment through structured processes like EOS®, driving sustainable growth and lasting impact for their businesses.”
