The following are examples of the results clients have achieved when working with RapidChange Group. In each case, RCG tools were used to accomplish specific, measurable goals in partnership with the companies' staff and RapidChange Network partners. More detailed case studies are available on this site and by contacting us directly.
LARGE-SCALE TURNAROUNDS
Challenge: A Fortune 500 manufacturing company was on the brink of disaster - scandal, lawsuits, violations of environmental laws, poor employee morale.
Result: RapidChange trained more than 13,000 employees to use tools to implement a new process improvement strategy. Today the company is alive, thriving and producing 30-40 percent annual returns.
BRINGING SUCCESS TO STRUGGLING SITES
Challenge: A Midwest paper mill was faced with decreased market share, a combative union-management relationship and its third new owner in six years. It felt like the red-haired stepchild.
Result: RapidChange tools were taught to all employees over four months and used to forge a constructive union relationship, resulting in significantly fewer grievances, greater focus on strategy, a sweeping turnaround in profits and new lease on life. The mill was purchased by an owner who is transferring new business to the site.
RESTORING QUALITY OF VISION
Challenge: A newspaper widely considered one of the nation's worst performers was losing interest from readers, advertisers and having difficulty recruiting top talent.
Result: RapidChange tools helped the staff build a clear vision of the future that lead to national and international recognition, deeper ties to the community, increased customer loyalty and above industry-average profits.
DEALING WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Challenge: Two powerful Fortune 500 companies and an industry pioneer formed an alliance to take on an aggressive foreign competitor. But their efforts are slowed by conflicting business cultures, clashing communication styles and complicated contract technicalities.
Result: RapidChange tools gave the parties the ability to streamline the communication process, align the partners behind common goals and set an aggressive but achievable timetable so that energies were spent on innovation rather than legalese.
EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT IN COST REDUCTION
Challenge: A company in a very competitive consumer market wanted to trim 5 percent of operating expenses at each of its sites without touching employee costs.
Result: Combining RapidChange tools and Lean Thinking tools allowed the company to tap into the wisdom of its own employees, rather than bring in high-priced consultants. In the end, the employee-driven ideas exceeded the company's goals.
REDUCING DEFECTS
Challenge: Serious quality issues at a facility in the Carolinas made for a lot of rework, and was costing time, money and high levels of frustration.
Result: After RapidChange training, the site commissioned a Quality Breakthrough Team to address quality awareness and improvement. Within two months, the site experienced a 50% reduction in defects, which dramatically reduced reworking time.
IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSE TIMES
Challenge: Customer complaints about response time were on the rise at this Fortune 500 company. Low employee morale and little employee engagement were cited as the primary causes.
Result: Using RapidChange tools and Rapid Response teams, employees eliminated more than half of the steps in the old order entry process and reduced the number of hours for filling an order from 24 to 4.
QUICKLY MEETING DEMANDS FOR NEW PRODUCTS
Challenge: A site needed to develop, manufacture and ship a brand new product more quickly than seemed possible.
Result: After RapidChange training, the site overcame established barriers, manufactured and shipped the first truckloads of the product within six months — and won a quality award in the process! The impact on the ROI of the facility was more than 10%.
IMPROVING SAFETY PERFORMANCE
Challenge: A former market leader had developed a poor safety record and experienced a 50% decline in EBIT due to shrinkage in market size and price. Even worse, EBIT was expected to decline another 50% that year.
Result: Work groups trained with RapidChange skills helped the business safety record improve by 30% and, instead of declining, EBIT increased by 70% in one year.