Please join us in welcoming Helena to the Hups team as an Operational Excellence Expert!
Tell us a bit about yourself
My first introduction to Lean was over 25 years ago, since then, I’ve worked with it in various roles, across different companies, tackling diverse challenges. Early in my career, I spent many years in consulting, followed by many years in various industries. Now, I’m back in consulting, with lots of experience to draw upon.
What inspired you to join Hups?
I'm fascinated by the mathematics behind flows and how to maximize output with available resources. But what interests me the most is the incredible transformation that happens when teams embrace flow principles—boosting efficiency, confidence, and engagement.
That’s what drew me to Hups: the chance to work with extraordinary companies tackling complex challenges and unlocking their potential to become more flow-efficient and competitive.
Why should companies adopt a flow-oriented operations strategy?
I really believe in transitioning from a focus on resource efficiency, where you are sort of efficient within your function, to looking at efficiency from an end-to-end perspective.
The effects I have observed from adopting a flow-oriented operations strategy rather than focusing on resources are significant and often counterintuitive. For example, how can drastically reducing inventory lead to better customer satisfaction? It doesn’t seem logical, but it’s a proven reality.
Becoming a flow-oriented organization leads to major improvements in lead time, productivity, and tied-up capital. It also reduces frustration within the organization and increases competitiveness through greater flexibility and adaptability to change.
Is there a book that has significantly influenced your approach to operational excellence?
I read The Machine That Changed the World, the story of Lean production early in my career, and it completely blew me away. Researchers from MIT had compared mass production to Lean production, and their findings left me both intrigued and inspired.
Another book that has inspired me is Good to Great, which examines why some companies transition from being merely good to truly great and why others fail to make the leap.
What's the most exciting part about working with Lean?
When people and teams start to understand the flow principles and start changing their ways of working. The impact of this is massive; both from an efficiency point of view, but also in terms of improving the self-confidence of the team and lifting the team spirit and engagement. And this is just from changing the ways in which you are working. It's fascinating!
If you had to give one piece of advice to organizations looking to improve their end-to-end flows, what would it be?
To be dedicated. Improving flow is a long-term commitment that requires an understanding of flow principles, mastering methods, analyzing your current state, and training in problem-solving. This knowledge must be scaled across all levels for a lasting impact.
