Business Improvement
Competitive Edge Programme
It’s time to change:
42% ($10m) increase in productivity in one year – what would that mean for your business?
(Case study: Pacific Aerospace)
Get the Competitive Edge!
To be globally competitive, New Zealand businesses need to increase productivity, build continuous improvement and innovation into their organisations.
Productivity programmes contribute to savings and efficiencies in the short term and respond to longer term capacity needs and growth opportunities.
The Competitive Edge programme is about how an organisation can introduce high performance tools and practices based on the Toyota Production System. The principles and tools can be applied to any sector to create the foundation for a competitive organisation.
Why use the Competitive Edge Programme?
Competitive Edge builds capability at the management level and provides the framework for the organisation to lead productivity improvement.
To establish the environment for introducing and sustaining improved productivity, key concepts, tools and processes from the Toyota Production System are combined with effective senior management and leadership training.
At the shopfloor, training and guidance is given to support ongoing continuous improvement. By putting the tools and processes in the hands of those carrying out the work, senior management is able to spend more time at the strategic level. The programme results in a change to workplace culture with high levels of interaction and problem–solving at all levels.
The programme can be linked to qualifications on the NZQA Qualifications Framework. This motivates employees and provides the system for ensuring learning is demonstrated to the standard required. This is an additional element of Competitive Edge that supports the growth of internal capability and programme sustainability.
Why transform your business through Competitive Edge?
The increasing pressure to deliver better products and services smarter, faster and at lower prices means that businesses are continually looking for ways to achieve improved results.
Typically, businesses concentrate on adding value to their products and services and delivering more within a shorter time frame. Bigger gains can be achieved by focusing energies on removing waste from within the business process — this is where the hidden costs lie.
The Toyota Production System is a proven methodology for productivity improvement. The tools and processes have been in existence for more than 50 years. The real issue for New Zealand businesses is how to apply them successfully.
“The tools and processes are widely available and are only 20% of the answer. The other 80% is how you implement and integrate them into your business.”
Clinton Yeats,
New Zealand productivity specialist