Publications

White paper: A Practical Approach to Achieving Productivity Optimization

Excerpt:

Today's world leaves little room for inefficient or poorly running organizations. The economic environment is unforgiving and margins are eroding in the face of relentless pressure and shaky markets.

Under these circumstances, companies are more interested than ever in productivity optimization, with particular emphasis on implementing improvements quickly, and reaping benefits immediately, as well as over the long haul.

A recent study conducted by the Aberdeen Group reveals there is little doubt business process improvements carry tangible benefits. The study found best-in-class companies obtained a weighted average 26% year-over-year reduction in operating cost by leveraging process management strategies, tactics, and tools. [...]

Download the full white paper.

Seven Things to Look for in a Business Engineer

Thinking about hiring a consultant or business engineer to help your organization improve?
Here are some things to look for:

1. Does the firm balance strong technical skills with equally strong people skills?

   It makes no sense having one without the other. You need engineers with strong process fundamentals who know how to assess an organization’s operations and how to put together a host of sustainable changes. You also need engineers to have the people skills necessary to achieve buy-in and implement the changes. While technical skills can be taught, people skills are harder to come by.

2. How far along the change process spectrum does it go?

   Does it stop at analyzing the organization, recommending improvements, or implementing change? Or does it go all the way through implementation and on to post-implementation follow-up? You need a group that focuses on lasting behavioral change and addresses every stage.

3. Does it have a bottom-up approach, or a top-down one?

   Bottom-up emphasizes practical and pragmatic over theoretical, and provides the greatest opportunity for realizing savings in the near term.

4. Does the organization stand by its work? What sorts of guarantees does it offer?

   Does it have a monetary incentive that ensures its goals are aligned with yours?

5. How does the organization communicate?

   Is it comfortable interacting in settings ranging from shop floor to board room? Change requires effort at all levels, so it is imperative that engineers can “talk the talk” throughout your company.

6. What is the composition of the team that will work with your company?

   Is it led by a seasoned program manager? Do the team members have a palpable passion for their jobs and the interpersonal skills necessary to work with you? Do they have the requisite process optimization knowledge and analytical skills?

7. Does the group operate with integrity and self confidence?

   Would you be comfortable revealing confidential and proprietary information to the team? If there is no sense of trust between the organizations, you will never succeed in getting an effective situational assessment or process improvement implementation.