To help you understand more easily what modules are within the Making It Happen toolkit I have now changed the login process so that you can view all of the module headings before you join. Access the free improvement tools here

Yesterday I was talking to one of my clients about the value of holding a daily 'huddle'. By this I mean a very short, process driven, daily meeting. Do you do these in your business?

Sometimes you need to strike whilst the iron is hot (so to speak). Sometimes you need to know when there is a natural momentum when it comes to making changes happen in a business.

The age old strategy of 'under promise and over deliver' is one that often goes wrong, doesn't it? Have you seen it go wrong in your business? For example - a customer is chasing you for an update on a late order and you give them your best delivery prediction.... only to watch it fall apart and witness your customer getting more and more irritated. Not only are they now angry at you / your business, you're now feeling less than brilliant. So how about these three pointers, should you find yourself in the same position?

One of my clients was struggling; their on time delivery performance was achieved through blood sweat and tears. They wanted their situation to be different . So, we looked at how they handled their orders and identified a simple change that was right in front of them.

When do you get your best continuous improvement ideas ? Do you get them in the middle of the busy workday, or do you get them during a quieter period of contemplation? Many of us get our flashes of inspiration when the working day calms down... and we need to take advantage of this.

We make things 'normal' don't we? The process that doesn't just quite work, the people who won't do what is asked of them, the tools that don't work... After a while we make them normal, We say to ourselves "that's the way it is..." and we put up with our current results!

To celebrate the launch of the Making It Happen  toolkit, please click here to access the free continuous improvement tools that are available on the website.

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.