In addition to helping companies to raise money, we also help them to save money.
Many companies simply throw money away in bloated operations and non-performing assets. We help our clients to reduce cost and enhance productivity. Our practice is based on the Six Sigma methodology. We not only help for-profit entities, we also assist not-for-profit entities and non-governmental organizations to improve their operations and enhance productivity. (For more information on how we assist non-profit entities, click here.)
Simply put, Six Sigma is a quality and productivity improvement discipline which requires that decisions be “fact-based” and “data-driven”. It uses a statistical approach to identifying, evaluating, reducing and minimizing the occurrence of defects in a product, process or service. Obviously, defects in manufacturing processes lead to defects in manufactured products. The same can be said of services (e.g. teller-window banking). The power of Six Sigma lies in its ability to unambiguously identify the root cause of defects and to follow a disciplined path toward the reduction of those defects.
There are two variants of Six Sigma. Six Sigma for process improvement is generally referred to as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) because these are the basic steps in a process improvement effort. ‘Design for Six Sigma’ (DfSS) uses a similar but slightly different approach to develop new products or processes. The basic steps are DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Validate).
After more than a decade of Six Sigma practice (spanning both process improvement (DMAIC) and development (DfSS)), we can assist our clients to improve their products and processes thereby savings money. The guiding philosophy is simple: a penny saved is a penny earned. By reducing cost, companies are able to leverage their resources to achieve growth and stability.
We can help companies examine their internal operations to reduce cost. In addition, we also help companies examine ways of realizing revenue from non-performing (or under-performing) assets. In many instances, companies have a lot of assets (equipment, matériel, associates, employees, etc.) that can be re-organized and redeployed into better performing roles and functions. That is another way in which we assist our clients. Our Six Sigma for Improvement practice (DMAIC), led by Certified Six Sigma practitioners, is very helpful in improving existing processes and reducing cost. We also provide Design for Six Sigma (DfSS) support to companies looking to develop new products or processes. In most of our engagements, the cost of the intervention is more than covered (in a relatively short time) by savings from the process.
To become Certified as a Six Sigma Specialist requires extensive (and monitored) training in addition to several years of practice. Vertical Optimization has specialists who are highly experienced in these two practices. We can help you.
