My book ' Business Process Re-engineering ' is now available in Vietnamese. If you would like further information, and to purchase, please visit  http://thaihabooks.com/sach-thaiha/798/Thay-dau-cho-bo-may-doanh-nghiep/ Giles About the author Giles Johnston is a Chartered Engineer who specialises in helping businesses to grow and improve through better business processes. Giles is also the author of Business Process Re-Engineering and creator of the ' Making It Happen ' continuous improvement strategies course.

"We deliver everything by the 35th of the month!" That's what I was told by a frustrated Finance Director. On time delivery is a challenge for many businesses, especially when the goal posts appear to move on a daily basis. But, what do you do if you recognise this problem within your own business?

When you undertake continuous improvement activities it is easy to have a broad brush approach. "We'll improve everything!" Everything can take a lot of time, and doesn't mean that you'll get the best results as quickly as possible.

One of the biggest production management challenges is maintaining control over the projects and orders flowing through the business. Keeping all of the balls in the air (so to speak) is sometimes a difficult job. But, if you can get a grip of the few things that matter this can become far easier.

I write a lot about on time delivery in this blog. Delivering products and services on time can provide other indicators (that things are working in the business): An effective management approac h is in place. Meaningful Key Performance Indicators are in use. A disciplined way of working, with good habits, is evident. ...but only if delivering on time isn't a struggle.

Everyone expects products and services to be delivered on time . It’s a basic ‘satisfier’ in any business transaction or project. So, why would I be writing about this as a strategy to grow a business? The world changes quickly (I’m sure that you have noticed!) and with these changes comes new problems to overcome. Customers change their buying habits, new products and services add complexity to the organisation of the delivery and production side of your business. Expectations are increased through the ongoing proliferation of e-commerce and on demand services. So, although on time delivery is expected it is not always experienced.

You're right! There are many strategies to help accelerate continuous improvement projects becoming a reality. But, I want to share one fundamental strategy, without this the others are largely pointless.

After receiving a number of requests, I have made the Making It Happen course available as an instant download.

Management by walking around is a great concept. The amount of information you can gather by having just a quick tour of part of your business is astounding. Small details that would be missing from management reports can be picked up easily from even just having a few minutes of your day invested in a brief stroll... as long as it is done with the right focus. A safe and productive working environment An obvious application of the walk around is to ensure that Health and Safety issues are adhered to. Clear walkways, organised working areas and a feeling of things working the way that they should are just a few things you can check for. If you see something that isn't right you can do something about it, there and then. You don't have to wait for a committee meeting to take place, action can be swift and effective.

Pretty much everyone I meet doesn't like receiving a non-conformance from their own business. I don't either, I like to think that I am competent at what I do. However, once the sting of the 'NCR' abates the opportunity appears...

How many times have you put an idea forward to improve a part of your business just to have it shot down by lots of reasons as to why it won't work? Although these reasons might be useful considerations it is often the way that they are provided to a discussion that makes them unhelpful. Do you know what I mean?

The opinions that count of course! When we are looking at changes that are going to take place in a business there may be several viewpoints that need to be taken into consideration. There might also be information that needs to be shared and acted upon. If you skip this step you're taking a risk...

One of my clients was complaining about the slow progress they were making on their improvements. In the past I have felt the same frustration, the feeling that you want all of the improvements to take effect today (or tomorrow, latest!). But sometimes we need to put this into context...