Finding A Business Process Improvement ConsultantAll organizations strive to be competitive and to improve their performance so they can better satisfy their customers. Business process improvement strategies abound but implementing them is not as easy as the hype suggests. There are quite a few companies offering training in the various strategies (such as Lean Manufacturing, Sigma Six or Business Process Reengineering) but it will take time to absorb and implement these strategies. To ensure that a BPI strategy is being used effectively some organizations choose to use the services of a business process improvement consultant. These professionals provide guidance to employees from the training stage, through to full implementation of a chosen process improvement strategy. Florida-based HPK Group LLC Process Improvement Consultants provides tools that an organization will need for business process improvement. Servicing all 50 states, HPK consultants are trained in Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, TQM, Constraint Management and QRM. It can tailor-fit programs based on the requirements of a particular organization, and typically begins with training for employees on the chosen improvement method with workshops and hands-on instruction. For Lean training, techniques include the Seven Wastes, 5S, Setup Reduction and Value Stream Mapping. Six Sigma Training workshops, which are also offered, aim to teach regular employees the same skills and techniques used by Green Belt practitioners. Value Creation Group in Texas purports to have consultants with 20 years of experience and can give practical advice and transfer knowledge. They specialize in Business Process Reengineering (BPR) that includes the following:
LeadVantage of Chicago, Illinois operates on the premise that operational excellence goes hand in hand with skills development. Their business process improvement consultancy services include business improvement coaching and individual and group skills development workshops. Business Process Improvement Consulting via Catalytic Management identifies scenarios when consulting becomes necessary, namely when:
Catalytic Management offers practical solutions for optimizing the business processes to reach the desired end. Collaboration between consultants and management is the key to process improvement based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. Consultants modify the strategies depending on the nature of the business and existing processes. The critical elements to business process improvement with Catalytic Management are:
Managers can also opt to join an organization such as the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) USA to take advantage of affiliations with the organization. As a member, a manager can find a consultant accredited with the organization to ensure the quality of the service that will be provided. Members can fill out a form specifying their needs. Member managers can also keep abreast with the management trends as assessed by Certified Management Consultants and Professional Members so they can keep up with sector benchmarks. Managers are also entitled to access management resources such as the forum as well as tools, templates, references, websites, lists and publications to improve the business. Finding a business process improvement consultant may be the best move for an organization that has no experience in handling process improvement strategies. The costs involved in consulting may be more than cost effective in the long term. |