Operational Improvement Strategies

SJW Associates (UK) Ltd.

Hands-on lean operational advice to improve quality, cost and delivery.

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Case Study: Cost reduction

Terms of reference

A newly appointed General Manager for a business in the construction industry required an objective appraisal of his site’s Operational performance and assistance with implementing Lean based performance improvement.

Project objectives

The overall project aims were to establish:

  • Quantified Operational performance and practice gaps between the business and ‘World Class Lean Operations’
  • Business benefits of achieving ‘World Class’ levels of Lean Operational performance and practice
  • Propose a route to implement a Lean Culture within the business
  • Support and facilitate the ‘Lean Culture Change Programme’ during implementation

Process of delivery

The project was delivered in the following phases:

  • A site visit was used to meet the management team and assess the site, collect the required business fiscal and operational data, and to establish the current operational practices.
  • Lean Operations Benchmarking Assessment identified specific ‘practice and performance gaps’ allowing these to be evaluated and their potential benefit quantified.
  • Using the assessment a benefits and time based action plan was proposed, discussed and agreed with the site management team.
  • The Lean Operations Programme was implemented with regular support ensuring that agreed goals and timelines were met.

Project outcomes

The project achieved the following:

  • The business has realised over a 2 year period a >15% rise in production output with lower costs and greater plant reliability
  • The General Manager has been assisted to develop his team so that they were better able to meet the new challenges.

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