How do you choose a Process Improvement Consultant?
Almost every successful business understands how effective streamlining and continually improving their business processes can be. A company that continues to improve and reach perfection will have a positive impact on their bottom line. Your business will operate more efficiently and leaner. Creating a culture of continuous improvement in an ever-changing market will take time and require specialized expertise. More organizations are placing focus on their internal processes instead of focusing only on employee output and sales. Improving your process is not easy, and you may need outside help, but how do you choose a process improvement consultant for your business?
Here are a few things to take into consideration when searching for a process improvement consultant.
How much will a process consultant cost you?
Will you have a positive ROI (Return on Investment)?
What impact will a process improvement consultant have on the business ROI?
Is the process improvement consultant competent?
It is best to choose your process consultant based on the value she will add and how they will impact your ROI. You do not want to base your choice solely on cost. If you make this decision, you could find yourself firing a consultant and hiring another. If possible, select a process improvement consultant that charges a fixed rate instead of an hourly rate. This decision will ensure a couple of things. 1) You will know your cost before the project starts. 2) The process improvement consultant will be taking on some of the risks by electing to charge a fixed rate. The second point will limit some of your risks.
Your company will have to decide if it will hire a single consultant or an entire firm. Note: hiring a firm will not come cheap but will be easier to get approved by a C-Level suite member. Once you make your decision, you should request an estimated return on investment. Understand that the consultant will be onsite for weeks before you begin to results on ROI. However, during this time, you will see an increase in employee morale and customer satisfaction. These improvements will increase productivity and repeat customers respectfully.
Your process improvement consultant should be competent in your industry (not required) and suitable for your business. If you fail to find a consultant that is competent in your industry, do not fret. Currently have employees that will assist the consultant with the details of your organization and industry. Additionally, when considering a process improvement consultant you should expect them to contribute to your business as if they're an employee.
You want to hire a process improvement consultant that is suitable for your organization. All process improvement consultants should be compatible with your organization. One size fits all will not work here. The consultant you choose should fit in easily with your organization's culture. Adaptability will play a pivotal role in the precision of the ROI you will receive from the process improvement consultant's recommendations. The consultant you hire should be flexible. They will have the ability to adjust their methods to improve the targeted processes within your organization. He/she should not feel that their methods work 100% of the time. What works for one organization may not work for another.
Often overlooked are soft skills. It is crucial that the process improvement consultant communicates well with you and your employees. If the process improvement consultant lacks any soft skills you will run the risk of your employee's morale becoming negatively impacted. Focus less and never base your hiring decision only on technical skills. You want an educator that will teach your employees, which will allow them to continue to use the skills and tools acquired from the process improvement consultant long after he/she completes the project.
Every successful process improvement consultant should have a proven track record that displays the company's state before recommendations and after. www.mcmginc.com