How does an operational consulting firm work?
An operational consulting firm is a company that sells the expertise and recommendations of its consultants to its clients, for one or more projects, generally for a given time (from a few days or weeks to several months). This time is the time necessary to carry out the entrusted mission. The project can be spread over time, depending on the problem, its complexity and the client’s expectations.
Thanks to his hindsight, his experience, his methodology and the data collected during his mission, the consultant produces recommendations and advice for the client company. An operational consulting firm is committed to its client to obtain results.
An operation consulting is the process of helping various types of businesses assess the current state of internal procedures and strategies, and improve the overall operation of the business. While an operation consulting is often thought of as focusing on manufacturing plants or production facilities, the scope of operations consulting is actually broader than that. Even companies that are service-based rather than product-based can benefit from operations consulting.
An operations consultant will typically begin the evaluation process by examining the structure of the business workflow. This starts with the structure and division of labor between company management and moves on to the various divisions and departments and how they relate to each other to ultimately provide customers with goods or services. The idea is to understand how each component of the business currently impacts that process, directly or indirectly.
Once the consultant has a firm understanding of how things are currently done, as well as the rationale behind those procedures and organizational structures, they can begin to offer advice on how to improve various operational functions
This involves looking at existing procedures and strategies that serve the company’s interests very well, while pointing out areas where there is room for improvement that would enhance the strengths of the operation. This is often one of the most difficult parts of the operations consulting process, as the client may resist some or all of the ideas presented by the consultant.
After reaching a consensus on what needs to be done, the next phase of the operational consultation is usually the implementation of the changes that are determined to be necessary. Here, consultants can be actively or passively involved in the process. The consultant can remain present throughout the implementation process, offering advice and assistance along the way. In other cases, the consultant may remain available to the client but not participate in the day-to-day implementation of the changes.
A professional who offers operations consulting services to clients may choose to specialize in certain types of businesses or hire clients in a wide range of industries. Depending on the client’s needs, the operations consulting assignment may focus only on particular areas of the company, such as evaluating and refining the relationship between inventory maintenance and the shipping department. In general, consultants will provide a fee schedule based on the client’s needs and the amount of time he or she anticipates will be required for evaluation and implementation of improvements.
What Are The Fields Of Intervention Of An Operational Consulting Firm? Examples of Assignments
An operational consulting firm is required to carry out different types of missions for its clients:
- Assistance in the transformation of a company through the definition and implementation of new work procedures;
- Management of structuring and strategic projects;
- Change management and management;
- Restructuring of a company in the context of safeguards and financial difficulties;
- Risk management;
- Transformation of information systems;
- Management of transition
