Quality Improvement - Products and Processes


	Starting situation		Four complaints per delivery on average in the internal process progression
	Goal		Ten-fold long-term improvement with complaints per delivery dropping to 0.4
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Detailed analysis, quantitatively using the complaints database, qualitatively using surveys and interviews Creation of a database that can be accessed by all employees with a monthly determined status of the quantitative Pareto assessment per country, per supplier and per product Creation of an interdisciplinary team which includes research and development, marketing, production, purchasing, logistics, sales and assembly. Joint decisions on the measures to be taken with those holding responsibility and on schedules Controlling that the measures are implemented in good time and what effect they have
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		1 year, first results after 6 months
	Resources:		Management in the first six months 1.8 persons, 10-15 company-internal employees from the departments to 10-60%
	Region:		Start in Europe, then global expansion of "global virtual teams"
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	Result 50% reduction in complaints within 12 months, set target after four years exceeded by 30%: 0.3 complaints per delivery

Turnaround & Management Buyout


	Starting situation		Production operations acquired through take-over no longer compatible with core business
	Goal		Sale of the company
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Analysis of the market potential, customer structure, cost basis and existing infrastructure Informing owner and management of the possible alternatives: restructuring with subsequent sale or closure of the company Definition of the restructuring measures with the company management with monthly reports detailing key performance indicators as well as coordination with the company ownership. New market segments (internet / brochures), new customer acquisition, reduction of fixed costs, renovation of the infrastructure and the production facilities Monthly progress checks
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		three years
	Resources:		Management for one day a week at the beginning, afterwards 2-3 days a month Management, external marketing specialist up to 2 days a week
	Region:		Italy (Productions operations & sales), Europe (market)
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	Result Following successful restructuring, the management acquired 100% of company shares. The corporation has been doing business successfully since 2005

Customer Focus & Reorganisation


	Starting situation		Departmentally seperated front organisation, customer complaints
	Goal		Customer-oriented organisation structure
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Analysis of the branch structure and the employee potentials; definition of the future organisational structure Various management workshops for communication and active contribution to the generation of detailed concepts Appointment of the management, joint selection of the other management positions in each of the branches, implementation of the new structure by the 1st of January deadline Monthly checks of the implementation, change in corporate culture consolidated through further management workshops and the joint generation of new management principles
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		6 months for definition and set-up, 6 months for implementation
	Resources:		External consulting for roughly 6 working months
	Region:		Switzerland
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	Result On-time implementation, significantly increased rates of customer satisfaction and employee motivation

Reduction of the Net Working Capital


	Starting situation		Corporate initiative «Reduction Net Working Capital»
	Goal		Sustainable reduction of the amount of capital tied up in circulating assets
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Analysis of the assets and liabilities in an international team, definition of the primary focus: debtor management Regular DSO (Days-Sales-Outstanding) reporting with predefined targets Newly defined debtor policy, binding directives created and with special team introduced in each country Checks of the implementation within the framework of the annual financial statement
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		12 months
	Resources:		Management for one day a week at the beginning, internal team made up of eight persons two days a month, roll-out with special team
	Region:		Worldwide
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	Result Goals massively exceeded already in the first annual finanacial statement

Introduction of IFRS


	Starting situation		Different annual finanacial statements of the subsidiaries
	Goal		Annual finanacial statement of the corporation in accordance with uniform directives
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Identification of the accounts rendered in each company, gap analysis in relation to IFRS Demonstration of the necessary adaptation steps within the framework of management workshops with those responsible for finance Drafting of new internal guidelines based on IAS/IFRS together with the auditor; definition of the EDP solution, implementation within the framework of the annual financial statement Checks of the implementation within the framework of the annual financial statement and audits
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		12 months
	Resources:		Management 2-3 days a month, 2-day Kick-off workshop, about one working year in order to draft new guidelines, introduction of the EDP solution within the framework of daily business operations
	Region:		Worldwide
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	Result Annual finanacial statement accepted without restrictions and comments

Cost Reduction Market Research


	Starting situation		Continuously increasing market research costs
	Goal		Cost reductions of at least a third
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Analysis of the existing evaluations, identification of the cost drivers together with the service provider, joint identification of possible saving measures Demonstration of the potential for savings to those responsible for marketing using an adapted reporting Joint decision on the adaptation of the market assessment and the implementation Checks that the information content and the cost reduction are in line with need and objective
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		4 months
	Resources:		Coordination and clarifications 15 working days
	Region:		Switzerland
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	Result The external costs of the market research were halfed while the necessary information content was kept at the same level

Liquidity Management


	Starting situation		Liquidity remained mainly unused on a bank account
	Goal		Active liquidity management including Cash Pooling and FOREX
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	Finding solutions, approach
	Identification of the various liquidity needs, evaluation of the potential with active liquidity management Demonstration of the structure, the profit potential and risks Definition of the investment guidelines for the necessary operational liquidity as well as for the foreign currency management, evaluation of the cash pool possibilities with two banks, decision and implementation, creation of a liquidity report Checks of the implementation, the report and the exact daily liquidity of the individual companies
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	Timeframe, resources, region
	Project duration:		8 months
	Resources:		Project management, clarifications, directives roughly three working months
	Region:		Europe
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	Result FOREX regulations introduced, vast majority of cash pool implemented, the active exploitation of the liquidity not required for business operations lead to regular, significant financial profit