Testimonials - Private Sector

“Stuart is a tenacious lean advocate and coach – who does not give up until people can do lean for themselves. His work is recognised and valued by his clients and I always look forward to supporting what he does.”

"The results are just so ridiculous the temptation is to step back and not tell the full story.” The tangible results mattered but were matched or exceeded by the soft benefits, the 'chemistry' of the team and how it changed in two days was amazing to watch.”

Sandy MacDonald, Managing Director, Henry Technologies

“Going lean made a very positive impression on all of our staff.  Ross International helped to breakdown any initial cynicism and really engaged everyone positively.  People’s opinions certainly count and we created a situation where our shop floor staff could actually influence the design of their own workplace.”

Alasdair Waugh, Site Director, Philips Lighting

“I have been fantastically impressed by what I have seen this (Blitz) week. It has been a tremendously exciting time for me. It is almost like working in a new company.”

Tom Sreeves, Manufacturing Director, Aggreko

“This risk-free, proven approach to eliminating waste in our operation exceeded all our wildest expectations.”

Alex Morton, Quality and Engineering Manager, Rosti (Scotland)

“Ross International’s experience, understanding and encouragement were vital in helping HP with the successful implementation of a new manufacturing material supply process. Their commitment to their clients and their willingness to apply their skills to activities outside their usual scope of work were invaluable in helping us achieve our goals.”

Murray Donald, Logistics Business Support Manager, Hewlett Packard

Ross International has contributed to our success by facilitating a Kaizen Blitz which increased capacity and flexibility to meet customer demands by cutting changeover times."

David Watson, Production Manager, Highland Spring

“Ross International took both experienced and inexperienced staff and enabled them to deliver results beyond their wildest expectations and left them as owners of the new processes. As managers we were surprised how much was achieved with only minor modifications to equipment.”

Alan Hardie, Managing Director, Paterson Arran

"For Terasaki, the Kaizen event has brought clear bottom line benefits in terms of reduction in production time, reduction in factory space used, reduced lead time to our customers and ultimately improved customer satisfaction. Employees are now initiating and making on-going changes. Kaizen blitz has provided the platform for on-going continuous improvement."

Georgie Smith, Logistics Manager, Terasaki Europe Limited

"Over a 2 year period Ross International trained 6 facilitators and brought about savings of millions of pounds by standardising processes and eliminating waste.

IBM Focus Magazine, Issue 2 2002

"Solectron's experience with Ross International on our Lean Green Belt journey has been a tremendous experience for us. The return on investment both in hard measurable improvements (quality/cost/delivery/flexibility) as well as intangible improvements (culture/ideas comfort with change) are well worth the investment."

Mark Cumming, Site General Manager, Solectron Scotland

Testimonials - Public Sector / Health Sector

"I have found Ross International to have a personal yet professional approach which is both encouraging and empowering. They provide a very supportive learning environment in which their teaching is delivered in a systematic manner. This supports effective learning in a timely and efficient way. They always demonstrate a willingness to go the extra mile in order to achieve exemplary results.”

Sally Wilson, Service Improvement Manager, Improvement and Support Team
Health Delivery Directorate, Scottish Government

“The training you have delivered for (Rapid Improvement Event) facilitators has been first rate. We anticipate a continued demand for this approach as it has been demonstrated (by you) that when properly facilitated, led and supported, it can deliver real improvements.”

Chris Stirling, (ex) Head of Support Programmes, Improvement and Support Team
Health Delivery Directorate, Scottish Government

"It's going to mean a shorter trip, less trips and a quicker arrival at an end point for a significant proportion of our patients who have worrying symptoms"

Mr Chris Goodman, Consultant Urologist, NHS Tyside

"It's been an intense week. On the RIE we were able to change things quickly that might have taken months, years if we had not taken the time out."

Mr Paul Halliday, Consultant Urologist, NHS Tayside

“As both a champion of business improvement in Scotland, and as a client who has seen the benefits in my own organisation, the development of the new Rapid Improvement Leadership Programme is an important milestone in the challenge of improving productivity and effectiveness in Scotland.”

Peter Russian, Chief Executive, Investors in People, Scotland

Kaizen lies at the heart of our corporate commitment to continuous improvement in the way we deliver services to customers, and supports the Council’s approach to achieving Best Value by bringing about real improvements in service performance.

As the principal in the company, Stuart Ross provides high-energy and effective support and challenge. His company's input to the growing number of success stories we have today cannot be underestimated.”

Alan Campbell, (ex) Chief Executive, Aberdeenshire Council

“Ross International is regarded as the ‘expert’ in Scotland and pioneered the transference of the usage of lean to the public sector. Their level of knowledge and detail on lean methodology cannot be faulted and their ability to address all situations based on years of experience is clearly evident.

Ross International employees are atypical consultants – they have an obvious public interest in helping others to help themselves to make improvements. The improvements made were astounding and very much with the involvement in staff so much so that the levels of empowerment are still being felt years on.

Their ability to connect with staff and to get them on side even when obstacles have to be overcome is due to the respect they quickly gain through their knowledge, expertise and ability to relate to the people they are working with. At the end of their interventions they are typically viewed more as friends than consultants.“

Ewhan Barschtschyk, Change Manager, Student Awards Agency For Scotland

"The Blitz week is long and sometimes painful but no matter what is thrown at the team, the power of the process helps to hold it all together – quite dramatic.”

Lesley Fordyce, (ex) Head of Business Development, The Scottish Government

"We sought to achieve a step-change in its planning application performance.  The team of staff selected to work on the project were strongly motivated by the week-long programme and have maintained an innovative and sustained approach to service efficiencies since the event.  Significant performance improvements have been achieved.

Update: The Kaizen exercise in Planning is still reaping rewards - our performance remains at a good level relative to peer authorities and we still have a "team spirit" amongst those who were part of the Kaizen team 2 years ago."

David R Leslie, Development Management Manager, City of Edinburgh Council