I was reading this week* that Apple’s newly anticipated handsets will probably not feature the cutting edge, “delighter” led, technology features we have come to love in their iPhone products over the years. This got me thinking about Kano Thinking and it’s relevance in 2019. When Noriaki Kano published “Attractive quality and must-be quality” in…
On our theme of ‘getting started’ this month, we always recommend listening closely to the ‘voice of the customer’ to understand the experience of using products and services from their point of view. Catalyst Director, Mark Jones, recently had a holiday in Cuba but couldn’t switch off completely prompted by his experiences, as he explains…
Managing Director Martin Brenig-Jones examines growth in the UK’s hotel industry and applies Lean Six Sigma methodology to demonstrate how hoteliers can avoid a post-Brexit slump. Martin’s article has been featured in the following publications: Hotel Business – 22 November 2016 HRM Guide – 9 January 2017 What does the future hold for the UK’s hotel industry? This…
Managing Director Martin Brenig-Jones examines Lean Six Sigma and its application to Human Resources to future proof your business. Martin’s article was published in the August 2016 issue of theHRDirector. Read Martin’s article on theHRDirector website here, and a PDF version of the August issue can be found here. Future proofing your business is one of…
Catalyst Consulting explores the benefits of using Lean Six Sigma methodology in the public sector, using their Lean Six Sigma award winning North Ayrshire council project as a case study. This is neither the time nor the place to rehearse the rights and wrongs of the government policy of austerity, but it is probably worth pointing out…
The North Ayrshire Council’s project focused on providing Occupational Therapy Equipment. This important service was taking too long, as much as a month on average. Using a series of workshops, process mapping and data collection, the team identified the non-value-add steps, and developed a new streamlined process. The control stage of the DMAIC process continued…
In part one we covered the importance of process mapping. In this second and final part we will get down to brass tacks and discuss how to create process maps and how to use them to greatest effect. How to process map Process maps can take a number of different forms and, depending on complexity,…
Part one of a two part series. In this article we are going to focus on the importance of process mapping. Why map process flow? Not many lawyers would consider themselves masters of process. When lawyers talk about their work, they typically focus on ‘high-value’ activities such as advocacy and counselling. But the truth is…
South Street Surgery in Bishop’s Stortford was the first UK GP surgery to introduce Lean Six Sigma and achieve the BQF Committed to Excellence Award. The organisation worked closely with Catalyst Consulting who provided the training and support through The Lean Six Sigma Academy. The efficiency of general practice (GP) surgeries has…
An international FS company needs to invest in its people and operations – building capability in problem solving, process management and leadership, and Lean Six Sigma is a proven method. The challenge however, is to effectively deliver this training for people that are globally dispersed and working in business critical roles. Switching to a blended learning…