Operative excellence

The emphasis of NPI’s operations is on operative excellence, the ability to accomplish the planned business operations efficiently and competitively and to fulfil the recognized customer need in the best possible way.

We are not a strategy advisor, but we are often involved in the development and implementation of management systems, policies and practices required to cope with the urgent challenges and to enable the desired transition. Excellently working processes and good knowledge of own performance also enable strategic repositioning when needed.

The emphasis of our services is on managing continuous improvement, paving a way for a successful cultural transformation, and naturally in solving real business problems and making improvements in the way work is performed – in the field, together with the experts of the client organization.

How to proceed?

A development project may for example start top down – recognize the strategic needs for breakthroughs, break them down into programs and projects and implement them as parts of the project portfolio. Or alternatively choose the road of shop floor empowerment and small steps of continuous improvement by everyone – bottom up, creating the solid foundation and eliminating waste in everyday operations.

Our approaches are often characterized by systems thinking and utilization of methods supporting systematic problem solving. Applying the principles of continuous improvement is in our opinion the heart of the entire concept of a learning organization and constant ability for self-renewal. We always customize and tailor our inhouse development programs and implementation roadmaps.

In projects requiring demanding problem-solving skills, we apply the 5-step process defined by the LSS DMAIC -roadmap. Our trainings and coaching services are often built around the DMAIC-frame.

D = Define
M = Measure
A = Analyze
I = Improve
C = Control

We know several hundreds of techniques and methods related to the toolboxes of different kinds of development mantras (such as Lean, Six Sigma, LSS, WCM, OPEX, JIT, JOT, XPS, Agile). We combine and apply these tools and methods according to our customer’s wishes and needs. In a results-oriented way!

Training programs

Customized trainings tailored to meet various job levels, development roles and competence needs.

Lean

• Lean basics in practice: focused for example on flow, value, waste, lead times, variation, bottlenecks, inventory levels and productivity. Always according to customer need.
• Lean advanced training: concentrating on standardizing operations, raising quality level, improving flexibility and efficiency, increasing agility or improving flow. Based on business need.
• Improvement tools, techniques and method training, for example: 5S, Visual management, Standard work, Gemba Walk, PDCA and A3, Kaizen event…ask more…!

Lean Six Sigma

• Lean Six Sigma awareness
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, 2–4 day training
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, 10–11 day training
• Lean Six Sigma GB2BB, 10–22 day advanced training
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, 22 day training
(we recommend GB and GB2BB track)
• LSS Champion, 1–4 day management coaching

Design for Six Sigma

• Design for Six Sigma Green Belt, 11–12 day programs. With the goal of improving the product development knowhow and product process.

Management systems

• Development and assessment of management systems (taking into consideration for example ISO, EFQM, Shingo or ”XPS” models)

Development workshops

Facilitation of workshops, brainstorming sessions and application of the problem-solving tools. Involving, engaging and energizing!

• Process mapping/value stream mapping workshops
• Process simulations and sessions to produce shared understanding for development
• Engaging development workshops, Kaizen Events
• Risk management workshops
• Network development, joint projects with suppliers

Management coaching

Support for top management and those in charge of managing development programs. A partner and coach at your service.

• A holistic picture and common understanding of value chains and systems thinking
• Planning the organization’s Opex/Lean implementation and support for deployment
• Efficient strategy implementation, adoption of Hoshin Kanri methods
• Recognize and prioritize development needs, setting up projects
• LSS Deployment sparring – how to make most of the training sessions

Project management and execution

Managing and executing improvement projects, hands on, and together with the expert team from client.

• Acting as project manager for LSS development projects
• Running bigger transformation projects
• Running projects aimed at the supplier network
• Temporary development manager at your service to promote your LSS or Opex implementation

Expert support

Professional knowhow, practical support for statistical thinking and management by facts.

• Building a scorecard for business measurement, BI
• Data collection and modification, efficiently and ’richly’
• Support for Graphical and Statistical analysis
• DOE and FMEA support
• Efficient use of Minitab
• Ensuring the capability of the measurement systems and devices
• Definition of tolerance chains

With you onsite and online