Lean Consulting
Time to get your business humming?
We're experts in Lean Thinking to make your work flow better, and Leadership Coaching to get your crew performing at their best. This means less wasted effort, a more productive team, and a healthier bottom line.
What we do
Imagine this:
Your business runs smoothly, without the usual chaos.
Your team is engaged and full of ideas.
Your customers become your biggest fans.
You can take time off without the place falling down without you!
That's what the New Zealand Lean Academy is all about. We're not your typical consultants who swoop in with a suit and tie and a bunch of rigid frameworks for you to follow. We work alongside each business to understand what's unique about you and your challenges, and build solutions that work.
Here's what working with us involves:
Business Check-Up: We look at your current operations to find all the areas for improvement.
Your Own Step-by-Step Plan: We create a plan that's all about your specific business goals.
Leadership Coaching: You can have all of the fancy systems & processes in the world, but without great leadership, driving change is impossible. Kate is our ICF qualified coach extraordinaire, and she's all over the people side of continuous improvement.
Workshops That Deliver Results: Knowing about Lean is great, but we know that it's the practical stuff that improves teamwork and efficiency.
FAQ's
"Okay, Lean Thinking sounds good, but what does that actually mean for my specific type of business?"
Lean Thinking started with Toyota in Japan after World War II. They needed to figure out how to produce high-quality vehicles with limited resources - and boy did they!
While Lean Thinking originated in manufacturing, the core principles are incredibly versatile. We've taken those tried and true methodologies and gotten creative with them both within and outside of manufacturing:
Healthcare: Making patient pathways smoother, reducing wait times, and improving the flow of information.
Marketing: Optimising campaign processes, reducing wasted advertising spend, and getting campaigns to market faster.
Administration: Streamlining paperwork, improving internal communication, and making office processes more efficient.
Education: Enhancing student learning experiences, improving resource allocation, and making administrative tasks more effective.
Even Local Councils: Helping them improve services for the community, streamline communication processes, and manage resources more effectively.
"What kind of results have other businesses like mine seen after working with the New Zealand Lean Academy?"
The culture within our whole company has shifted to a positive, continual improvement mentality where we're all visibly accountable to the rest of our team.
Rob has helped us to double our capacity whilst maintaining quality.
Mark
General Manager - Powerglide
Have you got a different question?
"You talk about bespoke plans – how involved will I be in creating this plan, and how much flexibility do I have?"
Our consulting plans are created specifically for your business and your ambitions. What do you want to achieve? Greater profits, industry leadership, or a business that runs smoothly without your constant attention? These are all ideal starting points.
You and your team are central to the entire process. We provide the expertise and tools, but your vision and input shape every step we take.
We work in focused 3-month review cycles. This allows us to introduce changes carefully, track their progress, and make adjustments as needed. It’s a regular opportunity to look at what's working, refine our approach, and ensure we're always aligned with your evolving needs and where you want your business to go. You are in control, and we're here to provide the expert support to get you there.
"What's the investment involved? What are your pricing structures or typical engagement costs?"
Let's talk turkey!
The most popular way to work with us is our on-site consulting program which ranges from $2,850 to $4,250 depending on your location, the size of your team and the frequency of visits. You'll get regular on-site visits and ubiquitous remote support each month.
You may be eligible for funding through our friends at Regional Business Partners. Have a chat with us, or your local RBPN office for support with this process.
Our remote-only consulting plans begin at just $750 per month. This gives you access to Kate and Rob on Zoom for 2 hours a month, weekly accountability check-ins, and text and email support when you need it.
We've got all sorts of options between these two ends of the consulting spectrum too. Get in touch to chat about what you're after.
Have you got a different question?
"How long does a typical consulting engagement last, and what kind of time commitment is required from my team?"
For a solid introduction and embedding of Lean Thinking, our typical consulting programs run for 12 to 18 months. This timeframe allows us to properly introduce tools, implement them well, and make lasting changes.
During this period, you can expect your team to dedicate at least 2 hours per week to learning about and experimenting with Lean concepts and tools. This time will be a mix of training, workshops, and applying these ideas to your actual work. The commitment ensures that Lean becomes a real part of how you do things, not just a passing fad.
Are you ready to get started?
