Skills shortages and staff retention are currently top challenges for most UK businesses and especially for manufacturers. A 2024 MAKEUK paper quotes that there are currently 69,000 live vacancies in UK manufacturing. The after-effects of Brexit and the pandemic along with an ageing workforce has resulted in many critical vacant roles taking months to fill. At the same time Industry 4.0, AI and accelerating technology changes mean that a skilled, engaged, and happy workforce is more important than ever. High quality relevant training has a vital role to play.  

Why train with Catalyst? 

Over the years, Catalyst has developed a comprehensive suite of training programmes providing critical skills for industry. We have renewed our family of Quality Tools courses for 2024 and upgraded our Lean Competency System accredited Lean offerings. We have seen that there is constant demand for our British Quality Foundation and Chartered Quality Institute accredited Lean Six Sigma programmes. 

Our courses are designed to equip staff with the practical skills they need to support their personal development and improve their businesses. Our trainers are highly experienced experts in their fields and are also guided by a deep understanding of what is needed to grow a culture of excellence in a business no matter where you are starting from. We have an impressive client list from across the manufacturing sector with fantastic delegate feedback – our average NPS (Net Promoter Score) is over 9.1 on a scale of 10. 

We regularly receive positive feedback from attendees: 

“Kirsty was amazing! Great learning technique and I’m really thinking about continuing with tests and courses, thank you Kirsty” 

–  Simon, Acushnet, Green Belt Training 

“Enjoyed the course. Found it really useful learning new techniques and tools to find a robust solution to a problem” 

 –Janette, The Hut Group, Root Cause Analysis  

As a specialist Continuous Improvement consultancy, we know the additional factors required to make training successful – ensuring buy-in from leaders, and that opportunities to put the new skills into practice are identified and sponsored appropriately, plus providing coaching support to the delegates afterwards – these are just some of the essentials. If you need advice or support in this area, we can help you. 

Course Overviews and Benefits 

We have an extensive course list, suitable for large or medium organisations and SMEs. 

Lean Courses 

Lean Foundations, Lean Practitioner, Advanced Lean Practitioner, Lean Master, Value Stream Mapping 

Eliminate waste and create flow in your processes. These practical courses engage with people whatever their stage on the path towards a Lean culture building confidence, autonomy, pride in achievements and business success. 

Lean Six Sigma 

White, Yellow, Green, Black and Master Black Belts 

Lean Six Sigma is the established data-driven breakthrough problem solving approach. It empowers people at all levels to work together to make a difference, delivering process improvements which impact customer satisfaction and business results. Our training programmes are hands-on, leaving participants eager to get started delivering improvements and further their own development and career satisfaction. 

Quality Tools 

Alongside these core methodologies we identified the need for a new specialised range of courses aimed at promoting excellence within the manufacturing sector. These have been developed and refined and are now offered within our new 2024 ‘Quality Tools’ portfolio: 

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & Production Part Approval Process (PPAP):

• Ensures the development and delivery of products that meet customer expectations. 

Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA):  

• Aids in identifying potential design failures to enhance product reliability. 

Process FMEA:  

• Focuses on analysing manufacturing processes to mitigate risks before they impact product quality. 

Measurement System Analysis (MSA):  

• Ensures the accuracy and reliability of data used in quality control processes. 

Statistical Process Control (SPC):  

• Employs statistical methods to monitor and control manufacturing processes. 

8 Disciplines (8D) Problem Solving:  

• Provides a structured approach to identify, correct, and eliminate recurring problems. 

Root Cause Analysis (RCA):  

• Equips participants with the skills to determine the root cause of defects and prevent future occurrences. 

The practical benefits of these courses are numerous, empowering participants with the skills to improve process efficiency and product quality while providing opportunities for personal achievement and growth. 

Measurable Benefits 

The landscape of UK manufacturing is evolving rapidly, and success in this demanding environment needs a proactive approach to learning and development. To achieve the twin pillars in our Manufacturing ‘Revival Engine’  (Skills and Retention) how do manufacturers select and deploy the skills most appropriate to achieve success?  

The first step is to talk with Catalyst. 

We will guide leaders and managers to identify the problems and issues, select the most effective skills and the method of delivery to optimise the capability and motivation of your teams. Catalyst Consulting’s proven training courses are the foundations which will help you build this capability. 

By investing in these programs, companies can expect not only to navigate the complexities of today’s market but also to lay the foundation for tomorrow’s innovations through investing in their core asset – their people. 

To discover more please visit these links: 

• Lean more about our Lean training courses
• Read about our BQF certified Lean Six Sigma training
• New for 2024 our Quality Tools portfolio

The post Are Skills and Retention Manufacturing’s Revival Engine? appeared first on Catalyst Consulting.

Team GB’s outstanding performance certainly helps dispel the myth that the UK can’t flourish after Brexit. So what can businesses do to keep winning gold medals? A good start would be to recognise that much of what the athletes are putting into practice are the Continuous Improvement thinking and techniques of Lean Six Sigma.

Let’s head over to the velodrome where the success of our cyclists is attributed to coach Dave Brailsford’s “aggregation of marginal gains” philosophy – improving every little thing by 1%.  That’s a nice way of describing Continuous Improvement and if you listen to Dave or the cyclists you’ll hear them say that it’s not just the improvements in themselves, but the mindset it creates in everyone in the team.

The key lesson here is that small incremental improvements are attainable for everyone and this enables a culture of continuous improvement to grow. It’s also why bite-sized Lean Six Sigma projects are so much more successful.

To the rugby now, and the victorious Fiji Rugby Sevens coach Ben Ryan who quit as England’s coach in frustration at “over-complication” said to CNN: “When you know what’s expected and it’s simple, it’s easy to maintain that standard. The boys know what’s expected. They’re empowered to do their thing.

Removing waste and complexity from processes makes them simpler to operate which makes it possible to empower employees. Empowered employees are more satisfied, provide better customer service, contribute more ideas and are more willing to embrace change.

And finally, the use of data in analysing and improving performance is widespread across so many sports today. Scientists used a mathematical model to explain how Usain Bolt’s speed can largely be attributed to his extraordinarily large stride length (2.44m), BAE Systems worked with UK Sport to enable British wheelchair athletes to achieve a 20% increase in acceleration through different racing positions, “iBoxer” software uses data on Team GB’s boxers and their opponents that reveals threats and opportunities for the fighters, helping them refine their tactics.

Lean Six Sigma applies data tools to measure, analyse and improve the performance of business processes and promote data based decision making. 

Our Lean Six Sigma Green Belt programme is an ideal introduction to continuous improvement, thinking and practice.

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Find out more

• What is Lean Six Sigma?
• Lean Six Sigma Training
• About Catalyst

The post What can business learn from Rio’s Gold Medal Winners? appeared first on Catalyst Consulting.