ASK A STRATEGIC CONSULTING PRO: WHAT IS AN OPERATIONS CONSULTANT?

Consulting firms explain that operations consultants are highly skilled business advisors that collaborate with organizations to optimize processes, systems, and strategies focused on efficiently coordinating people, resources, technology, and information to increase productivity, reduce costs, and drive sustainable growth.

An operations consultant’s typical objectives would be analyzing an organization’s infrastructure, policies, workflows and business goals, then identifying opportunities for improving productivity, efficiency, quality control, regulatory compliance, and technology adoption. By assessing organizations’ strengths and pain points holistically across departments, consultants architect integrated roadmaps for growth that align to strategic priorities.

Standard initiatives that operations consultants spearhead run the spectrum of developing inventory and supply chain management protocols to accelerate throughput, establishing data-driven quality assurance testing and monitoring activities to reduce defects and waste, directing capital investment for process automation capabilities to amplify output and safety, implementing enterprise software systems tying together planning, manufacturing, distribution under singular visibility, and formulating business continuity contingency response plans.

Expertise required spans understanding diverse organizational dynamics across industries in both office and industrial settings ranging from healthcare to banking to transportation while applying various process optimization methodologies including Six Sigma, Lean, Total Quality Management and Change Management competently. Operations consultants also require business acumen, quantitative analytics, project management, interpersonal communications, and presenting insights persuasively to influence executive decisions.

Sought primarily by mid-large companies undertaking expansion or digital transformation projects, the best operations consultants typically begin engagements by thoroughly evaluating current company procedures through staff interviews, observing operations directly and analyzing historical performances data. After identifying priorities for improvement, detailed recommendations take shape around updated standard operating procedures, strategic roadmaps, technology infrastructure diagrams and budget/timeline planning support materials.

Throughout implementations, consulting leaders oversee communication across stakeholders and management of change adoption while tracking progress through defined key performance indicators—redirecting activity as necessary to uphold timelines and expectations till successful project completion. Top consultants grow valued as trusted transformation partners for injecting new operational capabilities into organizations for competitive advantage.

The rewarding profession promises good compensation upwards of six-figures for senior managers, with high demand forecast as globalization drives companies to continually optimize productivity. Candidates holding college degrees in engineering, IT or business combined with sharp analytical abilities and creative problem-solving thrive by leveraging their versatility across domains managing complex enterprise-wide programs beneficially.