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~ DDMRP Webinar Series Improve your Customer Service levels, compress your lead times and reduce inventory through the application of Demand Driven Materials Requirement Planning (DDMRP) tactics and Replenishment+®

Following the recent successful UK DDMRP seminar by the Demand Driven Institute's Chad Smith, co-author of the new edition of Orlicky's Material Requirements Planning, Demand Driven Technologies will be presenting a series of webinars to allow a wider audience to appreciate the benefits of applying DDMRP to their organisation.

The webinars will feature in depth profiles on client applications of DDMRP along with a demonstration of Replenishment+®. They will also discuss their Opportunity Snapshot offer which can help organisations get a pre-view of the impact that DDMRP tactics can have on their business.

~ UK MRP Seminar presented by Chad Smith, co-author of the 2011 edition of Orlicky's Material Requirements Planning: I & J Munn Ltd, in association with Nottingham University Business School and Rolls-Royce Plc have invited Chad Smith to the UK to give a 2.5 hour seminar detailing a revolutionary formal planning approach that is producing staggering results in early adopters.
The seminar will describe and clarify the poor business results embedded in most of today’s demand and supply planning systems; discuss the core problems causing the results; present and detail an alternative demand driven structure for planning and controlling materials flow; and present initial results from actual implementations.

Date: Friday 11th November 2011
Venue: Nottingham University Business School

~ The Master-Class Proramme in Effective Leadership: Recent discussions within the Chartered Management Institute have highlighted the need for the development of people who can lead organisations. In response to this need we have developed a 10-day programme which uses the focusing power of the Theory of Constraints (TOC). With India and China currently the two countries with the largest growth in the use of TOC we thought it about time to offer this programme to those who lead the organisation, including their core team, in order to make UK plc much more effective in the face of such competition.
Please follow the link to find out more about our Master-Class Programme in Effective Leadership.

I would like to share this official news release with all my friends and colleagues:

“Sixty-four years ago a giant was born.

Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt spent his entire adult life fighting to show that it is possible to make this world a better place. We must have the honesty to see reality as it is, we must have the courage to challenge assumptions, and above all, we must use the gift of thinking. Having applied these principles to various management fields, he created the Theory of Constraints. His concepts and teachings have expanded beyond management and are being used in healthcare, education, counselling, government, agriculture and personal growth - to name a few fields using TOC. His legacy is invaluable.

On June 11th, 2011 at noon, Eli Goldratt passed away at his home in Israel in the company of his family and close friends.

The strength and passion of Eli allowed him to spend his last days sharing and delivering his latest insights and breakthroughs to a group of people who have committed to transfer this knowledge to the TOC Community during the upcoming Theory of Constraints International Certification Organization Conference in New York.

It was Eli's last wish for us to take TOC to the next level - truly standing on the shoulders of the Giant he was.

"I smile and start to count on my fingers: One, people are good. Two, every conflict can be removed. Three, every situation, no matter how complex it initially looks, is exceedingly simple. Four, every situation can be substantially improved; even the sky is not the limit. Five, every person can reach a full life. Six, there is always a win-win solution. Shall I continue to count?" "

I owe a great deal to Eli. Through his time and patience I learned a great deal about myself and my own journey in life. He guided me when I asked, and then left me alone to make my own mistakes. He gave me the confidence to use the tools he developed for all manner of applications, and that part of my journey is not yet complete. His legacy is not just through what he did himself, but how he challenged others to pick up the baton and go our own way, taking the TOC to places, geographically and philosophically, it had never been before.
His own work is now complete; we now have the challenge to continue his work as our own work. I know that in the years to come I will never forget this man and what he stood for. I will never forget the times we spent together and what he was able to teach me. For me, helping people achieve their goal in life has been a passion for some time, a passion that was lit by Eli. This remains my goal in life and in this way his legacy will continue to grow.

Thank you Eli.

~ Latest TOC-Lean Institute Newsletter: The importance of coaching & mentoring for those in positions of leadership is highlighted in the latest edition of the TOC-Lean Newsletter. Also in this edition - former MD Prof. Dave Stevens explains why it’s best to seek business assistance sooner rather than later!
A copy can be downloaded here.

~ The Coaching Quad & the Coaching Cycle: helping leaders to get the best from themselves, their team and their organisation has always been at the heart of what we do. Our coaching approach, which is based on the highly logical and practical Theory of Constraints Thinking Process, aims to Heal, Reconcile, Sustain and Guide.
For more information, please click here.

~ ACIS to host Lean-Flow Workshops: ACIS Ltd is holding a series of half-day Lean-Flow workshops around the UK in partnership with I & J Munn Ltd. The workshops will introduce repairers to the concept of Lean-Flow working processes and how they can impact positively on both productivity and profitability.
Paul Siemonek, Business Development Director for ACIS, said: "I attended a Lean-Flow workshop earlier this year and was impressed with how Lean-Flow solutions can really make an impact on a bodyshop's profitability. ACIS is constantly evaluating products and systems that are available in the market place and where we see something that we believe will make a difference we will promote it to our customers."
Please click here for more details, as reported in the ABP Club Newsletter.

~ CYCLE TIME MANAGEMENT in the car repair industry: Lean-Flow's Tony Lumb and Carl Flint from GB Flint Coachworks gave a very well-received presentation at the ABP Club meeting held at the Thatcham Triple Focus event on 17th June 2010. Their presentation highlighted the benefits of reduced cycle times, and provided compelling evidence that the Lean-Flow Bodyshop Solution can cut cycle times by half.
Click here to read the full report.

~ DO YOU NEED A SPEAKER FOR YOUR EVENT?: Many professional associations and societies hold regular evening events or conferences with guest speakers. Dr Ted Hutchin is an experienced and very popular presenter at such events and can entertain your members with his insights on a number of business and TOC-related topics.
Find out more here.

~ CRITICAL CHAIN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: We are pleased to announce that we are now able to supply Critical Chain "CCPM+" software from Advanced Projects in the USA to clients in the UK. Advanced Projects' President, Larry Leach, is a longstanding colleague and friend and we are delighted to be able to create this new partnership. Larry has written a number of key books in this field and is a highly capable project professional, with many successful implementations to his credit.
The fee for the CCPM+ is £ 350 (ex VAT) for each licence. We are of course able to provide the necessary training in both Critical Chain Project Management and the use of the CCPM+ software, to ensure that great results are achieved.
If you would like to learn more about CCPM+, please contact Ted Hutchin.

~ LEAN-FLOW: Our systems solution designed specifically for the Accident and Repair industry is going from strength to strength. Lean-Flow combines web-based software, a detailed and robust implementation plan and training for all key staff.

Fleet Support Group has recently announced that that of their 115 bodyshops, the 10 that have implemented Lean-Flow are getting vehicles back on the road faster than anyone else - leading to reduced administration costs and increased customer satisfaction. Click here to read the whole article, as reported in the ABP Club Newsletter.

To find out more about Lean-Flow, please click here.

~ RECENT & ONGOING WORK: We have been successful in continuing our relationship with ITP Engines UK Ltd in supporting their Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) implementation, coupled with Replenishment. We have also been active with them in the development of Critical Chain Project Management within Engineering/New Product Development and the creation of a new Quality Engineering function. This will be an on-going relationship throughout 2010 and reflects the strength of the partnership.

We have started a new project with Paddock Fabrications, situated in the West Midlands, to introduce simplified DBR and Replenishment and to develop with them an internal capability to both sustain and expand their business.

Our project in association with the National Skills Academy (NSA-M) for the Typhoon Eurofighter Support at RAF Coningsby continues to develop and we are running a series of intensive 10-day workshops focusing on the Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes and also the primary applications of DBR, Replenishment and Critical Chain Project Management, all centred around the MRO activity on the base.

~ MONTHLY SUPPORT: We know that many organisations would appreciate regular access to TOC-Lean expertise without having to make a large initial investment. We are therefore offering Business Support 'Bite Sized', whereby we visit your company one day a month to assist with leading and sustaining your projects, strategies and implementations.
Find out more here.

~ LEAN: We are pleased to announce the launch of our Lean Leaders Programme. The aim of the Programme is to develop within your organisation people who can both lead and sustain lean interventions and rapid improvement events.

This is a unique programme in that it is the only UK Lean Leader course to combine both Lean and TOC.
To find out more and discover just why this combination is so powerful, please click here.

~ HOSPITALS: With the current NHS spend under fierce pressure and the situation unlikely to change in the future, managing a hospital effectively has never been more important - or challenging.
TOC principles have been applied in hospital settings for some while now - with outstanding results. We offer senior NHS managers a variety of training programmes tailored specifically to their needs and drawing on our own experience of working within the NHS.
Further details can be found here.

~ TLS: We would like to announce the creation of a new 2-day TOC Lean Six Sigma Experts Workshop.
Aimed at Senior Managers, Lean and/or Six Sigma Belts and Operational Managers who are disatisfied with the results of their current Continuous Improvement projects, the workshop will show how TOC can give real focus to Lean and Six Sigma initiatives, resulting in greatly enhanced bottom-line results.
Please click here for more information.

~ EXECUTIVE WORKSHOP: Also new is our Executive Decision Making Workshop, which is aimed at those who have implemented TOC applications and wish to maximise the benefits by proactively taking control of production capablilites and market opportunities. The Workshop comprises 3 days training plus 2 days of in-company support.
Further details can be found here.

~ BREAKING THE CASH CONSTRAINT: In times of recession, it often becomes imperative to streamline one's business operation and cut back on waste. It is precisely at times such as these - when belts are tight and nothing can be wasted - that the tools and techniques of TOC become even more important for implementing business improvements. TOC can make sure that you are not tightening your business belts because you’re getting thin and frail, but because you’re getting fit and healthy.
The Newsletter from our sister organisation, the TOC-Lean Institute, looks at these issues and introduces our 8-day intensive course, "Breaking the Cash Constraint", which is aimed at top managers and their teams.
Please click here to download the Newsletter.
Previous TOC-Lean Institute Newsletters can be viewed here

~ A DAY WITH JONAH! Those of you who have read Dr Goldratt's 'The Goal' will remember how Alex Rogo's old professor, Jonah, is instrumental in changing Alex's thinking, setting him on the path to success. Well, now you can have Jonah visit your own plant! We are offering the opportunity to have a TOC expert "troubleshooter" come to your company, to look at things with a fresh eye and ask questions - at times very searching questions - about how things are running and what could be done to make an improvement in your business operations. Click here to find out more.

~ WHAT COULD 'THE GOAL' DO FOR YOU? We have launched a new 'Goal' on-site training package, aimed at bringing the Theory of Constraints fundamentals as set forth in Dr Eli Goldratt's book 'The Goal' right to the heart of your company. At £250 per morning or afternoon session (not per person), this is a great value opportunity. Please click here for more information.

~ NEW GOLDRATT BOOK: Dr Eli Goldratt published a new book last autumn. 'The Choice' reveals how it is possible, by examining causal relationships and removing root conflicts, to change the damaging yet prevailing mindset that assumes complex problems must require complex solutions. Click here to read a review.

~ 'GOAL' OVERVIEW: We have also added an in-depth overview of 'The Goal'. Join fictional plant manager Alex Rogo on his now famous journey to success here.

~ PATIENT FLOW: We have been engaged by a major NHS Hospital Trust to address the issues related to patient flow. This is in respect of meeting the national target of 18 week Referral to Treatment (RTT) and ensuring that the constraints to flow are properly addressed.

The unique 'process flow' principles of TOC - the Theory of Constraints - can be enormously beneficial when applied to both manufacturing and service industries where the efficient flow of goods, services - or people - is crucial to the success of the organisation.

Please contact us if you would like to find out more:
Telephone: 01664 502860
Email: tedh@constraintmanagement.co.uk