Advantages of Hiring a LEAN Consultant

Many companies wonder whether hiring an outside LEAN Consultant will be an advantageous move. This is entirely understandable; several factors should be taken into consideration before hiring outside help of any kind, including:

• Is the consultant capable of providing benefits and positive change?
• Do the company’s goals align with the goals of the consultant?
• Are the company and the consultant a good fit?

If you’ve been wondering what good could potentially arise from consultant services of this kind, we are here to put your mind at ease.

Here is how hiring a LEAN Consultant can benefit your organization.

You’ll Get an Objective and Unbiased Opinion

Having an outside perspective can be extremely helpful for a number of reasons. This rings especially true for small or medium-sized companies who tend to have upper management or business owners who’ve invested large amounts of time, energy, and care into their respective businesses. This positive investment has built their business, however, may also leave leadership blinded to obvious issues that can eventually become expensively detrimental. It can be easy for the organizational leaders to become clouded in their judgment or prone to making emotional decisions – everyone wants the best for the business.  An outside consultant can bring in new perspectives free of preconceived notions, feelings of nostalgia, and other distracting sentiment without breaking the essential interpersonal bonds of existing working relationships.

• In certain situations, consultants can identify problems that may only ever be noticeable to outsiders. Managers and employees who are constantly steeped in the traditions of their workplace and environment may by no fault of their own entirely overlook problematic issues that have been staring them directly in the face. This is a well-known phenomenon that can only be remedied with the addition of a fresh pair of eyes.
• Family-owned businesses can have relationship dynamics which prevent upper management from making tough judgment calls that may be necessary to the viability of a company. An outside consultant can be tasked and trusted to make objective, neutral, and sound judgment calls, without fear of reprisal or damage to the unification of a company.

LEAN Consultants Assist in the Realization of Both Long and Short-term Goals

Over time, a company may realize they are not achieving the goals they set out because their day to day activities are taking precedence.  This is very normal for any organization as the work must get done to keep the machine running. But, getting into a rut can be dangerous. In fact, the seven most expensive words in business are “we have always done it that way.” To accomplish important goals of any kind, everyone within a company will need to embrace unification, an attitude of streamlined efficiency, and the possibility of change.

• An outside LEAN consultant can help companies reach both long and short-term goals by bringing in an enthusiastic attitude complete with fresh motivation and experience in reducing waste. Change needs to be driven from the top and requires involvement from the workers. If the workers do not believe in the changes that are proposed, they will fail. This is why culture is so important.
• Reducing waste and streamlining efficiency go hand in hand. Unfortunately, the initiation of certain types of waste minimization can cause many kinds of disruption within a workplace. To effectively achieve certain kinds of waste minimization without causing dissent among the ranks, an experience outside consultant may be required.

Leaders Gain Access to a Unique Knowledge Base

The LEAN consultant that you hire should be highly-skilled in multiple areas that will be capable of positively impacting your business. Choose a consultant that has been trained in specialized areas such as outside marketing, LEAN manufacturing, client and interpersonal relations, or other areas that may be helpful.

• An experienced consultant will have a dependable perspective that can influence company growth and employee knowledge. Hiring a consultant allows you to learn tips and tricks of the trade that you might have never had access to otherwise. These skills will stick with you even after the services of your consultant are no longer needed.

The Company Will Have a Short-term Increase in Manpower

Having a new consultation will give you more than just a few good ideas. You’ll get an increase in the size of your team, even if it’s only temporary. This can lead to immediate action and task completion. Instant action is far superior to simple talk. After all, everyone knows that actions speak louder than words. In many cases, people who are busy with the day to day tasks necessary to the smooth operation of a company can’t always be expected to take on extra projects. The extra hands provided by a LEAN manufacturing expert can help to lighten the burdens of employees who may already have a full plate of work to accomplish.

Change Must Take Priority

The change that businesses and companies need will not succeed unless everyone is involved and wants the changes to occur. Until change becomes a priority, it will not become 100% effective.

Outside consultants and LEAN specialists can influence real change within a company and increase its sticking power and thus effectiveness. Bringing in an outside consultant can unite a company and be the tipping factor needed to finally get the ball rolling on the changes needed to make your company more successful.

For this, and for all of the reasons previously stated, an outside LEAN consultant may just be what your business has been craving.