Getting started on the Journey to Operational Excellence
More about our initial evaluation
Every time we engage with a business in an initial evaluation, we consider that business a customer. Even before an agreement to hire us has been reached. And with all of our customers, it’s important that you’re able to recognize our high level of engagement, or our never ending quest for operational excellence. So for that reason our initial evaluation is offered FREE OF CHARGE.
What does that mean? If you are a local, Chicagoland based enterprise*, we will come to your place of business and have an initial conversation to best understand your current-state. We will cover both what’s working well and what's causing pain. We’ll talk about market forces that may be effecting your operations. We will work to understand where you are today.
After that, working with key employees, we will step into the work and with your leadership, we will conduct a Lean Gemba-walk. We will “go to the place of the real work” and better understand the day-to-day challenges. That’s not just in operations. It could include the sales team, or accounting. If turn-over is a pressing concern, it may include sitting down with your HR staff.
Initial assessments that include site visits usually range between two and four hours. Typically, we lead interviews with Leadership, Department Managers and staff, spend time on the shop floor, or in the critical meetings and participate in a closing meeting where findings and recommended next steps are shared.
*If you are not a local business, we will provide an abbreviated initial evaluation via phone, or we are happy to travel to you - if you are willing to cover the cost of travel.
