Learn Four Strategies To Start Improving Any Area Of Your Business

How We Can Help

From our perspective, developing the capacity of employees and leaders is the process to develop a learning organization; getting staff to change the way they do their work is crucial in order to see long-term improvements to safety, quality, quantity and cost. Developing employee capacity has to improve the functioning of the organization as measured by these types of metrics. Capacity development does not occur in a straight line, but occurs when time is allocated to support problem solving, allowing time for reflection and identifying opportunities for improvement on a daily basis.

Continuous improvement tools are useful for various types of problem solving; however, in a true TPS system, the tools are used for developing capacity in employees – it develops critical thinking as well as improving problem solving skills.

This is a different emphasis between what our team is engaged in, as compared to other “lean consultants”. We believe primarily in people capacity development through your leaders and coaches.

As with other advanced skill sets, TPS is not truly learned “theoretically” (relying on classroom training alone), but rather it is “learned by doing”. Our integrated approach to coaching focuses on:

  • Learning kaizen mindset
  • Support Day-to-Day Problem Solving
  • Learning to Coach & Develop Others
  • Support Strategic Direction & Goals

Some Companies We Have Helped

How we add value

Our approach to adding value to our partners focuses on the following main pillars of support:

Organizational, Operational & Launch / Expansion Assessments:

  • Evaluate plant layouts for optimal use of technology, equipment and people to maintain maximum efficiency, flexibility and adaptability.
  • Conduct equipment evaluation – status of the equipment, maintenance, feasibility.  Equipment design principles including modern technology, automation controls and capacity utilization.
  • Operations – Conduct independent observations of manufacturing activities and processes, Production Planning, Visual Management, Workplace Organization, Manpower Tracking and Attendance, Job Tracking, KPIs, Daily Status reporting, TWI Job Instructions and Standardized Work.
  • Compare marketplace demands with capacity, including future expansion possibilities.
  • Evaluate overall management system for entire operations.
  • Detailed final assessment report, outlining findings & recommendations.

On Site Improvement & Innovation Support:

  • Doing Way, Teaching Way or Coaching Way as required
  • Capital equipment investment and innovation coaching, before expansion and/or purchase (cost avoidance).
  • Provide hands-on, direct coaching on the shop floor / operational area(s)
  • Follow and teach the scientific method of improvement; compare current. condition with an image of target condition; use Plan-Do-Check-Act (P-D-C-A) thinking.
  • Create kaizen mindset through controlled experimentation / improvement trials.
  • Teach Improvement Kata to improve results & reduce lead-time between improvements.
  • Business based improvements to safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale and environment.
  • Foster innovation thinking in day-to-day operations, as well as in product development & launch.

Remote Coaching:

  • Interactive continuous improvement coaching by an experienced mentor (with direct Toyota and/or TSSC training/experience) to guide you through interpreting the True North Excellence System ©.
  • A structured approach to real-life problems in your workplace and a vision for what is next.
  • Guided assignments to accelerate learning & achieve results.
  • Technology enabled gemba walks.
  • Guided reflection for personal learning.
  • Cost effective development program that eliminates travel expenses, combined with interactive mentoring

Interactive Workshops:

  • Coaching & improvement can be enhanced through a number of customized, hands-on workshops, designed  to introduce participants to the True North Excellence System ©
  • True North Excellence System ©  Simulation Workshop
    • Step-by-step implementation, along with common challenges, solutions & the crucial role of leadership
  • Toyota Kata Improvement Workshop
    • Hands-on simulation for leaders & practitioners to learn improvement and coaching kata.
  • Technical Training Workshops
    • Improvement Workshop (step-by-step training on kaizen method)
    • Material & Information Flow Workshop (how to design & map your organization)
    • Job Instruction Workshop (How to Teach)
    • Job Relations Workshop (How to Lead)
  • Leadership Development Boot Camps
    • Front Line Leader Boot Camp
    • Manager Boot Camp
  • Introduction to Innovation and Continuous Improvement Workshop
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