Strategic Planning

Today, organizations that wish to exceed customer expectations and stay competitive need a long-range strategic plan. This plan must be forward-looking, visionary and achievable, while at the same time striving toward continuous improvement of the organization's key business processes. The organization must, in effect, manage both short and long term objectives equally well in order to move forward successfully. We use the hoshin strategic planning process that is highly successful in meeting these requirements with our clients.

The hoshin process is, most importantly, a systematic planning methodology for defining long-range key entity objectives. These are breakthrough objectives that typically extend two to five years with little change. Second, the hoshin process maintains sight of the day-to-day "business fundamental" measures required to run the business successfully. This two-pronged approach provides the stability over an extended period of time for the organization to focus its breakthrough effort while continuously improving key business processes day to day.

The hoshin methodology results in

High degree of focus on the Breakthrough objectives.
The development of plans that adequately support the objectives.
A Systematic review of the progress of these plans.
Effective and timely changes to plans as required.
Contribution to the continuous improvement of key business processes.
Enhanced organizational learning.
Ensuring that everyone in the organization is working toward the same end. ("On the same page").

We work with our clients in developing their strategic plan, teaching their staff the strategic planning process, helping the client monitor the continuous planning process and the overall performance to plan.

Information Systems (IS) Assessment

Many of our clients were afraid that they were not capable of objectively assessing their Information Systems(IS) investment as they didn't know how to effectively measure their current IS performance and utilization. They told us that they would like to be able to assess whether current IS meets their needs and how well their staff is utilizing it.

We provide experience and our proven methodology, to help assess their current system and to identify areas of improvement. Including whether they should replace or upgrade IS or retrain staff, resulting in significant increases in performance, utilization and return on their IS investment.

Our Process includes

Assessment of Current Information System. (What do you have?)
Assessment of Organization's utilization of current IS. (How well do you and your staff use it?)
Identify Improvement Opportunities and Needs. (How you can use it more effectively?)
Define Financial Impact of Problems and Proposed Solutions. (What's in it for you?)
Assist in Acquisition of IS Products/Services, if required. (We help you get it.)
Project Management. (We help you achieve the expected returns.)
On - Going Services. (We make sure you stay on track.)

Inventory Performance Management Assessment (IPMP)

Our Inventory Performance Management Process (IPMP) can be integrated with our client's data or can be left stand-alone. IPMP allows us to measure the Current & Planned Inventory performance using a combination of the American Production & Inventory Control Society's (APICS) theory and our proven approach based on many years of experience.

MP will identify areas where

the current inventory criteria are not in line with the overall company goals and
the current system parameters are in conflict with the overall company objectives.

With IPMP we either directly or work with your trained staff to define the level of inventory as it should be and outline the steps to be taken to re-align the current inventory to that level. By following our recommendations our clients very quickly see the improvement in their Inventory Performance while addressing both customer service and dollar investment.

The costs of our services are far exceeded by the savings/opportunities we help you obtain and immediately improve your bottom line. Our performance based fee structure is a combination of a modest monthly retainer and a predetermined percentage of the savings/opportunities we help you actually achieve.