The “Operational Throughput” Sprint
Operational Throughput Sprint Roadmap
Surgical intervention for specific operational or sales bottlenecks.
Phase 0
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
0
Implementation & Data Foundation
Weeks 1-4
// Objective
Connect ERP and Accounting data to establish a baseline for “Actual” costs.
// Action Steps
- Identify key data and establish connectivity and data intake pipelines for them
// Linked Models
Key Deliverable
A Data Connectivity Report quantifying the financial cost of manual data rework and technological fragmentation.
1
Diagnostic Foundation
Weeks 5-8
// Objective
Standardize data and set up dashboard with baseline costs and margins
// Action Steps
- Cleanse data to ensure data is workable and concise
- Set up dashboard for client visibility and utilization
- Establish baseline costs and margins
// Linked Models
Key Deliverable
Preliminary Centralized Dashboard, displaying relevant and live KPIs that identify the baseline metrics of the firm. Initial Company Status Report discussing key performance indicators (KPIs).
2
The Bottleneck Hunt
Weeks 9-10
// Objective
Find the “Constraint” that dictates the speed of the entire company.
// Action Steps
- Map the “Lead-to-Cash” process to identify the single step with the largest queue.
- Measure the “Idle Capacity” of downstream resources waiting for the bottleneck.
- Calculate the revenue lost per hour of downtime at the constraint.
// Linked Models
Key Deliverable
A Constraint Impact Report quantifying the cost of the bottleneck.
3
Friction Removal
Weeks 11-12
// Objective
Standardize the work to reduce variance and errors.
// Action Steps
- Measure the time variance between different employees performing the same task.
- Identify the “Gold Standard” method and document it as the new SOP.
- Quantify “Rework Costs” (scrap/revisions) caused by lack of standardization.
// Linked Models
Key Deliverable
Formalize Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the bottleneck process (or revisions for existing SOPs)
4
Workforce Alignment
Weeks 13-14
// Objective
Ensure staffing levels match the new throughput goals.
// Action Steps
- Measure “Productive” vs. “Administrative” hours for key staff.
- Identify “Shadow Labor” (manual data entry) that prevents staff from doing billable work.
- Re-allocate low-value tasks to free up key technicians/operators.
// Linked Models
Key Deliverable
A Labor Optimization Report to increase billable utilization.
5
Supply Chain Synchronization
Weeks 15-16
// Objective
Ensure materials/inputs arrive exactly when needed to support the new speed.
// Action Steps
- Calculate the “Cost of Waiting” due to vendor delays.
- Adjust “Safety Stock” levels to buffer the bottleneck against external disruption.
// Linked Models
Key Deliverable
An Inventory Optimization Report with recommendations on next steps