our APPROACH to consulting
Our integrated approach creates value for our clients while minimizing risk. It is important for us to understand our client's business issues before we proceed; we achieve this by taking an integrated approach. Our approach quickly baselines the current state of performance and sets the course for future action while providing flexibility through all phases of the engagement from initial assessment to design and implementation. This allows us to examine progress and reassess direction during an engagement while minimizing risk. After each phase, our clients evaluate the benefit received and determine if it is appropriate to move to the next phase.
one day walk-through
After an initial discussion with our clients about how can we help, we typically spend a day at the client site investigating the perceived problem(s), and at the end of the day we present our findings. If we can agree that there are significant opportunities for improvement, we will propose on an operational assessment.
assessment
An assessment begins by gaining a clear understanding of the business strategy and goals in order to determine key problem areas. A joint BLMC-Client assessment team works across functions to map the core business processes looking to be improved and then analyze this information to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the business, determine future direction, and establish the economics for change.
The assessment provides a clear understanding of the current-state of the business with mid-level details on both process and information systems. This baseline leads to the development of a desired future-state that is economically justifiable and generates significant value for our clients. The assessment phase typically ranges from one to three months depending on scope.
The assessment provides a clear understanding of the current-state of the business with mid-level details on both process and information systems. This baseline leads to the development of a desired future-state that is economically justifiable and generates significant value for our clients. The assessment phase typically ranges from one to three months depending on scope.
design
After the assessment is complete, and there is agreement from management on a course of action, the joint BLMC-Client team creates a detailed future-state design. We begin with further detailing the current-state using our unique RBWA (Routing by Walking Around) methodology. This detailed analysis of both processes and IT systems leads to the identification of value-added and non-value added process segments. The team then works to eliminate or minimize the non value-added process steps and simplify those that are value-added.
The result of this effort is a detailed future-state process and/or systems landscape, with associated resource requirements and organizational structure to support it, if required. This information is used to create a capacity modeling tool that simulates the future-state of the business and forms the basis for the economic justification of change. This is typically a one to four month effort depending on scope.
The result of this effort is a detailed future-state process and/or systems landscape, with associated resource requirements and organizational structure to support it, if required. This information is used to create a capacity modeling tool that simulates the future-state of the business and forms the basis for the economic justification of change. This is typically a one to four month effort depending on scope.
implementation
We begin the implementation by creating detailed project plans, (tasks, timing, resources, cost, responsibility, etc.), that set the baseline for execution. The project plans are followed systematically, managed daily, and reviewed with the Steering Committee weekly. When there is a potential for “critical path” delays, management is informed immediately, so that steps can be taken to get the project back on track.
After the future-state processes and systems are implemented, our consultants continue to work with the client team to ensure that the agreed upon performance targets are met. Toward the end of the implementation, we transition the client teams into Continuous Improvement or Kaizen teams to ensure that there are mechanisms in place to drive improvement.
After the future-state processes and systems are implemented, our consultants continue to work with the client team to ensure that the agreed upon performance targets are met. Toward the end of the implementation, we transition the client teams into Continuous Improvement or Kaizen teams to ensure that there are mechanisms in place to drive improvement.
six month follow-up
As part of every engagement, we conduct a six month follow-up assessment to evaluate the success of the implementation and the new business environment. We apply the same tools used in the assessment phase of the engagement, and compare the results against the documented performance at the end of the implementation phase. At the end of this followup, we provide a report card that shows areas that require management attention and a road-map for additional improvement.
“THERE ARE RISKS AND COSTS TO ACTION, BUT THEY ARE FAR LESS THAN THAN THE LONG-TERM RISKS AND COSTS OF COMFORTABLE INACTION."
~JOHN F. KENNEDY~ |
How Can We Help? |