Strategy & Growth Projects
Changing for the Better
If you never bleed, you’re never going to grow. These daring, out-of-the-box projects focus on new ways of working to tackle the disruptive market landscape in the era of technological leap.
New ways of working means convincing others to take that leap of faith and dive into it. Thus, these projects often go beyond just the development of concepts and framework, but also the transfer of knowledge and implementation. This is often done through effective, hands-on training that is adaptable to all level within the organisation.
These projects are run/co-run by me. I’m involved in all stages from ideation to implementation and follow-up, including all contents created.
Kill the CAT
This controversially named project was part of the Innovation Factory Competition in 2019 based on Eric Reiss’s the Lean Startup. Three coworkers decided to run with their idea of how small trucks could enter and replace the large machinery for the European mining and quarry segment. (Hence the name!)
Smaller, on-road trucks can be used for mining and quarry operation at lower cost and much more sustainable environmentally. However, both automotive and mining industry face an internal challenge: proof of concept.
The solution? Meet Curiosity Package. A three steps work of Map & Measure, Rent & Buy, Follow-up. The team encourages open discussion by creating the mirror of the operation for the customer to see how the solution can be the best fit, follow by the option of test run the products, and follow-up on the result of the trial, where the customers have option to buy at the end of the day.
The project was met with success during real customer interviews and the presentation for the panel of judges. It was integrated as part of the business development of Trucks Department following the end of the competition.
Mining @ Demo Centre Programme
“How do you translate mindset into a tangible experience?”
A million dollar question, really. What starts as a team building activity to tackle the knowledge sharing in lean mindset has turned into a full-blown customer experience. In just half a day, this hands-on programme delineates how simple can lean factory principles be adapted into the mining environment, meanwhile showcasing the proof of concept that smaller, on-road trucks can be used in mining at the same time to drive sales. The participants get to test-and-drive the vehicle, while looking at how to optimise the flow and adapting the change in real time.
The aim of the programme is to create trust between supplier and operator. By having an open and honest conversation about what matters in the customer’s business, both party can create a fruitful business discussion and demand-driven outcome.
This programme is the extension of the Kill the CAT project and was an incredible success.
Scania Site Optimisation
The Lean State of Mine.
This constantly adapted project is years of culmination of efforts to translate lean factory principles into a mining transport operation. The aim of this project is to help customers increase profitability and manage risks through optimal utilisation of their current resources, which, in turns, helps to increase value in utilising the products and services and drive long-term sales.
What is lean? Well, it was developed by Toyota for their production system and popularised around the globe with concepts like six sigma, kaizen, and value stream mapping. The project development consists of tools, methods, as well as framework. By viewing mining operation as a factory, these concepts were taken into real operation, starting with a 500 trucks operation in India in 2017 that were met with huge success.
The project has taken many turns and trials and has achieved successes both in driving sales and real customer implementation.
Factors that Count
The key part of lean is everyone in the process should know the overview of the operations and how their roles affect the big picture. This can be done by having simple, easy to measure KPIs such as takt and cycle time to measure productivity. Training all involved of the mindset is crucial.
Decisions Based on Facts
Translating operational data into actionable information in near-real time means that optimised flow can begin today, not tomorrow. Part of the project was a development of SODA (Site Optimisation Dashboard), a web-based tool that collects operational data from both trucks and loaders and translate that into productivity measurement.
Trust & Partnership
Another heart of lean is the continuous improvement. The project includes close contact with the customers and operators to follow up on the results, and that, in turn, creates trust that goes beyond a supplier/customer relationship towards a long, lasting and sustainable growth.
Knowledge Transfer Programme
How do you get people to adopt a new way of working or a new mindset?
Most trainings are boring, one-sided activity that is a check in the box before everybody goes back to doing the same thing they’ve always done.
My work on all these growth & strategy projects have a lot to do with change management. And in order to ensure a lasting change, the knowledge transfer is crucial. This means the boring conference centre setup is no longer the norm.
The trainings are hands-on, thought-provoking, and often out of the comfort zone. It’s about bringing the sales organisation out to the customers and do it real. It’s about inspiring a will to change and create the culture of accountability whilst encouraging learning from your mistakes.
These trainings also needed to be adaptable for all levels, to train all involved in the process, from drivers to mechanics and up to the executives. The message is essentially the same, but the execution of the training varied to deliver maximum effect.