Lean Insights

Lean Insights

Autumn 2011

Greetings!

I am delighted to send you this first issue of Lean Insights - news and views on all things lean from Fedden USP. Over the last few months, we have achieved some notable successes on behalf of our clients...and for ourselves as well. Some of these achievements are outlined below - I hope you enjoy reading these stories. Do please get in touch if you have any suggestions for topics you would like to be covered in future issues.

Regards

Neil Fedden

Growing Business for a Lean Garden Centre Fairweather's

A New Forest garden centre that describes itself as Beaulieu's 'hidden gem', is bucking the national trend by reporting a significant increase in sales after applying business improvement techniques tried and tested in Japan's automotive industry...read more

Lean in Retail - Top Tips for Surviving Tough Trading Conditions

The current problems within the retail sector brought about by global economic problems are creating an opportunity to focus in on streamlining processes and come out the other side with a significantly stronger sector. Retail Challenges

From the work Fedden USP has done with over 70 companies in the sector, Lean Consultant Neil Fedden has distilled down his top 10 tips for retail companies and how they can use LEAN to reduce their costs and improve customer service levels...read more

Designing Demand - Supporting Businesses in Uncertain Times

These are testing times for manufacturing. Strong competition from overseas and the downturn in export demand highlighted by the recent Markit/CIPS survey paint a bleak picture. Companies need to keep costs down, but those that fail to innovate and make the most of what opportunities there are risk losing out to faster moving rivals.

Designing Demand is the Design Council's national business development programme and the call for applications has just opened...read more

In This Issue

Fairweather's Garden Centre

Lean in Retail Top Tips

Designing Demand

Are You an ISO14001 Expert?

A South Coast manufacturer is seeking a Health, Safety and Environment Manager to help them implement ISO14001. Interested? Call Neil on 07899 971183 for further information.

For further information contact Jane Medley at Fedden USP

By phone: 08448 708 267

By email: info@fedden-usp.co.uk

Via the web: www.fedden-usp.co.uk

Fedden USP helps businesses add to bottom line performance by helping them improve productivity and service levels by focusing on innovation in product and customer-focused processes.

Award Winners

Gosport Business Award

Fedden USP won the "Most Promising New Business" Award at the Gosport Business Awards. Judges noted that the company had achieved impressive growth and had established an excellent reputation for delivering significant benefits to both small businesses and FTSE 100 companies.

Neil said: "I was delighted to hear that we had been shortlisted - but when we were announced as the winners, it was a great moment for everyone involved in the business."