Dee Kivett is the CEO and president of NextGen Supply Chain Integrators. NextGen specializes in helping companies seeking certification to ISO 900 and 1345, AS 9100 and 9120, TS 16949 standards, as well as the rigorous requirements of Boeing.

On a little side note, Dee grew up sitting on tires at the race track watching her father and uncle, the world famous Wood Brothers, race their cars around the circuit. Maybe that's where she picked up a keen appreciation of quality control. She is an adjunct professor at Clemson University specializing in design and manufacturing project management for the automotive industry.

In today's interview we discuss examples of why the government pays $75 for a screw and how a small firm can become certified to provide mission critical parts to the Department of Defense.