Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Won't an outsider disrupt my business and workflow? We're too busy to have interruptions.
A: When you are busy is exactly the right time for us to work with you
because problems and solutions will be the most revealing to you. This
is when you handle the greatest part of your volume and make your
profits. It also could well be the time when you experience your
greatest losses in areas of the company that are losing money. Our
experience shows that problems become more evident and more
advantageously corrected when you are operating at peaks. This is when
you may even see your problems, but you are too busy to do much about
them.
Q: We have a very unique business, how can you possibly know how we operate to be able to help us?
A: Every company we work for is different. The fact - that every
business is different - is what keeps us in business. If everybody was
the same you could easily go out and buy standard procedures for
operating your business. We are not interested in the technical side of
your business. We are only interested in helping you with the invested
dollar as it progresses through the business cycle.
Q: Do you have experts in every type of business there is?
A: Our people are experts in evaluating and making recommendations to
business practices and procedures. The technicalities of your business
are not our interest. You and your people are experts in that area, so
you do not need another expert to state what you already know. Instead,
what will be most helpful to you is a fresh perspective on your
operation from a person who is skilled at providing companies with an
outside viewpoint. This is something that many business owners and
their employees find very difficult to do with their own company.
Q: Are you going to come into my company and tell me how to run my own business?
A: We don't intend to run your business. We will provide you with the
tools to operate your business more effectively. Typically, it is the
business side of an operation that needs our help, not the technical
areas where our clients are the experts.
Q: Can you give me some references, the names of other companies that you've worked for, so I can contact them.
A: We provide a confidential service for clients. In fact, we sign a
confidentiality agreement that we take very seriously. Some business
owners do not want it known that they've used a management consulting
firm to assist them. We respect their feelings. Some clients, however,
allow us to describe our work with them. These descriptions are
included on the Web site in the Our Clients section.
Q: We've been in business for years and we know all about our business. How can your consultants help us?
A: You should know your business very well. However, knowing it so
well, you may be too close to the forest to see the trees. In other
words, can you recognize your problems? What you need is an outside
viewpoint from an impartial organization that will look at your company
objectively.
Q: Why should I have you look at my company when I'm satisfied with the profit we're making?
A: Complacency has destroyed more prosperous companies than any other
business attitude. Very few people are ever truly satisfied with the
money they are making or the level of success of their company. And
they shouldn't be if they want to continue to be successful. Are all of
the departments in your business making money and contributing to the
company's success, or don't you know? Would your employees reject an
increase in earnings?
Q: How can you help my company when we don't allow outsiders in our plant because of proprietary methods in use.
A: We are not interested in the technical details of your operations.
Our services focus on those portions of your business that typically do
not include secret processes. In addition, every one of our employees
is bonded for $500,000. Most important, our interest in maintaining our
reputation is your best insurance that all confidences will be
respected and maintained.
Q: How can you help my company when our prices are based on our competition and there's nothing we can do about it?
A: Your prices may be set by your competition, but your costs are not.
By improving your business practices, you have the opportunity to
become the competition that your competitors worry about. With better
management, you'll be the one establishing the prices in the industry.
Q: Can you help my company even if we have a union agreement in place?
A: Labor agreements don't have to be affected when considering
increased profits. We can and have successfully worked within the
context of union contracts. And we were still able to make a
significant difference on the bottom line. Typically, the percent of
your outgoing dollars in people costs is 10 to 50 percent. Even if we
did not get into that people area, we could still make recommendations
to improve the other areas that make up 50 to 90 percent of your
operation that does not concern the union.
Q: My company is relatively small. Will you be able to help a business our size?
A: Every company, no matter what the size, has some problem areas. In
any size company, there should be room for practical ideas that improve
operations and make the business better.
Q: Our job shop makes a variety of items, and no two jobs are the same. How could you help us?
A: Your business costs are more than labor and production. While the
items you produce may always be different, you still have estimating,
pricing, inventory, shipping and indirect labor functions. Also,
consider the management functions such as organization, policies,
facilities, methods and personnel that could benefit from improvements.
Q:
If my company has its own in-house consulting and trouble shooting
staff how will you provide us with anything of greater value?
A: Your consultants are on the company's payroll and controlled by your
company's policies and procedures. Because of these factors, internal
consultants are likely to be influenced by the very issues that may
need changing.
