Work simplification is a collaborative, people-centered strategy that has been used by some of the world’s leading corporations, including Maytag Corporation and Proctor & Gamble Company to increase efficiency and reduce costs. The strategy has also been overwhelmingly effective with smaller operations. Research shows that processes that have not been evaluated, even those that have worked for years, can lead to high costs and inefficiencies. Work simplification emphasizes a team approach to analyzing these processes and devising ways to improve them. In evaluating the processes of many of our clients, we’ve determined that in most cases, many of these outdated processes are the primary causes of high costs, poor employee morale, and overall organizational inefficiency. By working closely with our clients and using effective and actionable work simplification strategies, we can easily pinpoint problem areas and devise sound solutions to a variety of issues.

Has your company been using the same processes and procedures for years to accomplish primary tasks? Unevaluated "this-is-the-way-we've-always-done-it" processes are often at the root of the problems most often cited as the cause of business failure. By reviewing your current business practices, identifying duplication and problem areas and then improving your business’s efficiency, we can ultimately help you increase your bottom line.

When employing work simplification strategies to improve business efficiency, one of the first tasks is to evaluate the type of work performed at your company.

• Productive Work – Brings value to your business and your customers. It’s why your business exists.
• Non-productive Work – Preparation, processing and filing that is necessary to do productive work.
• Non-work – Nonessential work that wastes time and resources. 

The first thing we do is set up an Improvement Team consisting of management and employees involved in the process. We work with the team to examine your processes and focus on increasing the amount of productive work, and reducing and eliminating non-productive work and non-work. By using a hands-on team approach, we can help you reach new levels of organizational success.

Work simplification is a results-driven methodology. After working with your Improvement Team, we help your company adopt and implement new processes that can drastically improve your business operations. Some of the benefits include:

• Increased production
• Greater efficiency
• Reduced spending
• Higher customer and client satisfaction
• Empowered employees
• Improved employee morale

Work simplification is a five-step analytical process in which defined volumes and quantities of work are documented and then reviewed with those involved in the process. While it is common for companies to hire business consultants to evaluate their processes, employees typically resent the recommendations and resulting changes. By involving the employees, changes are more likely to be accepted by your entire organization therefore eliminating the resistance that often results when changes are made without employee input.

Once changes are approved by the team, specific savings can be identified for the new and revised processes. The end result is a streamlined process that is efficient, cost-effective and ready for implementation.

• Step One: Review and document existing processes with involved employees using a series of flow charts.
• Step Two: Review processes with Improvement team.
• Step Three: Analyze all of the steps used in current processes. Simplify complicated procedures, delete unnecessary steps and combine steps when applicable.
• Step Four: Document proposed processes, provide recommendations to the Improvement Team that support your company's main revenue-producing tasks. Then we justify how the new and revised processes will increase individual and organizational productivity.
• Step Five: Assist with implementation and provide procedure manuals as appropriate. Schedule a complimentary follow-up review at an agreed upon time.

Since each project is unique to the company that we work with, we only charge for that portion we are involved with. Consequently, we do not charge an hourly rate, rather we provide you with our fees when we present our proposal. Sometimes your personnel can assist with certain aspects of the project, in which case you won't have to pay us in those areas. When appropriate, we can even work on a percentage basis calculated upon what we can save you.

If you’re looking for a creative solution to help cut costs, boost productivity and revenue, let us show you how work simplification can improve your business operations today. Our consulting services can be tailored to fit the needs of organizations of any size and in any industry.