Action Business Consulting – What We Do
Helping Manufacturing & Service Companies Lift Margins – Action 4 YOUR Business
Defining Process Improvement Programs for small to mid-level companies to realize margin improvements and/or solve complex problems. Front End guidance for solution definition and option analysis for those issues deeply impacting operations. Architects of innovative designs to solve business problems. Creative solutions to help make Process Improvements stick.
Creating Basic Engineering Packages for Option Analysis
Designing New Processes or Revising Existing Processes through full Front End Engineering (Including Request for Proposals)
Providing programs and talks to inspire organizations and help individuals realize their potential.
Specializing in plastic manufacturing, industrial part manufacturing, equipment assembly, chemical processing, and healthcare device manufacturing and service companies.
Examples of projects include:
Service Company – Customer Support Process
Customer satisfaction was eroding and costs increasing because customer support issues were coming into the business from various products without very much detail that required support engineers to spend an inordinate amount of time determining root cause potential solutions. We defined the development Value Stream and Kaizen opportunities that led to a new product platform to monitor the performance of IT products. The strategy included a new platform with hooks into existing products utilizing a globally contracted monitoring solution. As issues arose, the new monitoring solution would alert support engineers via an automated support ticket within the customer relationship management system. One hour of support time was reduced on average for each customer supported issue resulting in $10 million of margin over a three-year span.
Manufacturing Company – Total Business Process
The manufacturer had developed a brand-new machine and was struggling to install it at various customers. Where it was installed, the new machine was having service issues that was delaying and/or stopping revenue recognition and costs were out of control. We assembled a team from across the business that defined the customer value stream from the sales process through the service process. The steps included contracting, logistics, assembly, and support. Using LEAN 6 Sigma techniques, the team defined and implemented more than 100 kaizen opportunities over the course of two years. The business received more than $50 million in unexpected revenue and implementation cycle times were reduced from 90 days to 14 days.
Niche Chemical Manufacturer –Specialty Chemical Production Process
The business was facing a financial crisis due to antiquated equipment and high labor costs. Leading the team using Value Stream Mapping, we defined several process issues that impacted production. Using an opportunity analysis and potential solution mapping we found a way to automate existing plant equipment and redefine the process with a new control strategy such that we shrunk plant costs. As a result, business productivity gained more than $3 million annually.
Large Equipment Assembly –Waste Collection Process
A facility was spending more than $3 million in waste disposal costs from the collection of various degreasers, solvents, paints, and rags used in the production of large, heavy equipment. In addition, the collection methodology meant that operating personnel risked chemical exposure and other potential hazards from collecting and disposing materials in 55-gallon drums. Defining the Value Stream and improvement opportunities, we creatively found methods to segregate the various materials. Collaborating with custom equipment vendors and other engineering experts, a new process was designed and constructed that incorporated a new waste handling facility segregating the various waste materials using an innovative waste drum collection and processing facility enabling the business to save more than $2 million annually and improve safety.