Who is the best consultant?

In the congestion at the exit of Waru toll-gate on a business trip last week to Surabaya, a chat with the driver reminded me to write an article about the importance of having the right consultant.

There were various problems faced by companies and the contributing factors were also different. The congestion as one example has resulted in increased distribution costs as well as reduced customer service level which in the end would reduce the profit margin, is a real challenge for companies nowadays.

Often management in companies forgot to consider suggestions from their own employees at the operational level for their brainstorming process. In the effort to find solutions for the problems faced, many very useful suggestions could be gathered from the people at the operational level. An example that occured at a company which has made ​​plan to reduce the number of drivers to anticipate the increase in distribution costs. It was actually the valuable input on appropriate steps that should be taken by the company in overcoming the problems encountered from one of its drivers that really worked well.

The driver who was with me said the congestions that always occur just after the toll gate should not have happened if either the gate is not located there or the design of the road after the gate is not uphill. The logic is simple because for the loaded trucks would be more difficult to start moving again after payment of the toll-fee so that congestion is not inevitable.

From those examples mentioned above, we will be able to find lots of valuable suggestion from our employees doing the day-to-day operational activities to solve various problems in our company. Always remember to first find those consultants in our company who can be the source of ideas for management not only in solving problems but also in achieving better results.