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PRISM Consultancy International specialises in helping organisations in diverse fields understand and apply the theory and methods needed for a successful improvement transformation. As a management consultancy, we have an extensive and impressive history of over 18 years of experience in a number of areas of expertise.
Our consulting firm majors in Lean Systems Thinking and Process Improvement and the members of the PRISM Consultancy team have experience in the application of these methods and approaches not just in their work with clients but previously, as managers, in such World Class firms as Hewlett-Packard.
Our strengths lie in the teaching and application of the tools and methods of Continual Process Improvement - the so-called "systematic approach". These may either be classroom events or focused around real-time studies with clients. These methods include the well-known Process Improvement tools - but used holistically in a totally practical way as in the celebrated PRISM Improvement Experience course, Statistical Process Control (but applied also to management and service situations) and other advanced approaches.
The Use of Consultants and the Development of Internal Expertise
A key PRISM principle is that the development of external experts is essential. Because of this, it is worth making some clear points about the use of such an important but necessarily expensive resource as consultants like us so that maximum value is derived. There are many consulting models ranging from establishing an internal contracted resource to do a particular job (examples include much consultancy in the financial or IT fields) to buying in training courses and nothing else. Neither of these models is focussed on transferring knowledge and expertise and facilitating the development of the learning organisation.
At PRISM, we see ourselves as teachers and facilitators of learning. We see our role as helping the client to become knowledgeable and self-sustaining. We are only too willing to play a lead role at the beginning of the initiative by providing the key expertise by running educational events such as awareness seminars for senior management, training events such as the Lean Improvement Experience and facilitating improvement teams. However, we encourage the client to begin developing its own internal resources of expertise. It is likely that a small core group of full-time coaches is identified that can be taken through the PRISM coach programme much of which is application based so that they become the facilitators of the future. They can even be trained to deliver the Improvement Experience itself which further internalises the expertise as well as creating large financial savings. As the initiative develops other, part-time coaches may be established in different parts of the organisation.
This approach has many advantages; it reinforces
the key Lean principle of the creation of the learning organisation,
and it costs far less in the long run.
Nigel Clements
Nigel has been with PRISM since 1994 and has worked with clients in many industries, including banks, the chemical industry, telecommunications, freight logistics, information technology, aerospace, construction, engineering, local authorities, police forces, healthcare, and within the privatised railway.
Nigel's consulting interest lies in using the principles and methodology of Continuous Improvement to help teams and organisations seek practical changes for better performance. Nigel enjoys working in ways that teams at all levels can apply immediately to their situation. His specific areas of expertise include training and consulting in statistical methods, strategic deployment of improvement, Six-Sigma, acquiring and deploying the voice of the customer: also coaching and facilitating management teams, improvement teams, and in-company business improvement analysts.
To see what Nigel has been up to view his blog at prism-nigel.blogspot.com.
Ian Graham
After a career in technical sales and marketing with Hewlett-Packard, Ian became that firm’s Director of Quality in 1986. He took a particularly innovative approach to training, which enjoyed massive success in that company. During this period, he spent time in the H-P plants in Singapore and Malaysia and learnt the power of the "Systematic Approach" from H-P's Japanese experts.
Ian's specific areas of expertise include Transformation Planning, Facilitation of Lean Systems Thinking Steering Committee activities, Statistical Methods education and training and Top Management mentoring. Ian is a great believer in the importance of balance between theory and application. This belief gave rise to his highly successful simulation training course, the "PRISM Improvement Experience". These contributions enable companies to make real achievements towards "World Class" performance.
David Kerr
Dave spent 37 years in the Rail Industry. With a good understanding
of the technical aspects of Railway Signalling David also
worked in Engineering management, taking several senior roles
within Production management, Project Engineering & Project
Management. He has worked with improvement teams within UK,
Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Italy & Portugal.
In 1993 David first became acquainted with Dr Deming's management
philosophy, in his own words 'a life changing experience'.
Subsequently he has focussed his career on the teaching, development
& application of systemic thinking to leadership &
management. He has a particular interest & passion in
the development & practical application of statistical
thinking & in his previous post with Atkins spent seven
& a half years leading the development & application
of a pragmatic systems approach within Atkins Rail.
David now focuses on the provision of teaching & consultancy
services in the development & application of systems thinking
to organisational & process improvement.
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