Consulting Guide

What a Process Improvement Consultant Delivers in the First 90 Days

Within the first 90 days, a process improvement consultant should deliver tangible value across three phases: foundational discovery, deep dive analysis, and validation with a roadmap. This includes initial assessment reports, detailed process maps, bottleneck analysis, and a clear implementation plan with initial performance metrics. The goal is to move from understanding operations to identifying opportunities and proving value with a blueprint for future improvements.

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The 90-day process

Three phases, twelve deliverables, one roadmap

  1. By day 30

    Discovery

    Understand how work runs today
    • Initial assessment report
    • Stakeholder interview summaries
    • Data inventory and collection plan
    • Current state observations
  2. By day 60

    Analysis

    Find where time and money leak
    • As-is process maps
    • Bottleneck analysis report
    • Opportunity identification matrix
    • Solution concepts and recommendations
  3. By day 90

    Validation

    Prove it works, then plan the rollout
    • Pilot project report
    • Initial performance metrics
    • Implementation roadmap
    • Training and knowledge transfer

Day 90 outcome: a validated implementation roadmap your team can run with.

88%of business transformations fail to achieve their original ambitionsBain & Company, April 2024

Foundational Discovery Phase

The initial month is dedicated to immersion and foundational data gathering. The consultant’s primary goal is to understand your organisation’s current operational situation, key challenges, and strategic objectives. This involves extensive listening, observing, and data collection to form a solid baseline.

Key Deliverables by Day 30

1
Initial Assessment ReportA high-level overview of the current state, identifying initial hypotheses about pain points and opportunities. This report should reflect an understanding of your business model and operational context.
2
Stakeholder Interview SummariesDocumented insights from interviews with key personnel across different departments. This captures perspectives on current processes, bottlenecks, and desired outcomes.
3
Data Inventory and Collection PlanA clear outline of the systems and data sources available (e.g., ERP, CRM, custom operational tools) and a plan for extracting and preparing this data for analysis.
4
Current State ObservationsDocumented findings from initial process walkthroughs and observations, highlighting manual steps, workarounds, and areas of potential inefficiency.

Deep Dive Analysis

With a solid understanding of your operations, the consultant moves into deeper analysis. This phase focuses on mapping existing processes in detail, pinpointing specific bottlenecks, and identifying concrete areas for improvement. The aim is to move from general observations to data-backed insights and actionable opportunities.

Key Deliverables by Day 60

1
As-Is Process MapsDetailed visual representations of your current operational workflows, derived from collected data and stakeholder input. These maps should clearly show steps, decision points, and handoffs. For complex, cross-system processes, tools that unify disparate data are essential to generate comprehensive, audit-ready process maps.
2
Bottleneck Analysis ReportA comprehensive report detailing where processes stall, incur delays, or lead to rework. This report should quantify the impact of these bottlenecks in terms of time, cost, or resource utilisation. Understanding and addressing these is a core part of process mining and bottleneck detection. Process mining services can be particularly effective here.
3
Opportunity Identification MatrixA prioritised list of process improvement opportunities, categorised by potential impact and feasibility. This helps in focusing efforts on areas that will yield the most significant returns.
4
Solution Concepts and Initial RecommendationsHigh-level proposals for how identified opportunities can be addressed, including potential changes to workflows, technology, or resource allocation. These are not full designs but conceptual approaches.

Validation & Roadmap

The final month of the first 90 days is about validating proposed solutions through pilots or proofs of concept and developing a clear roadmap for broader implementation. This phase demonstrates the tangible benefits of the consultant’s work and provides a blueprint for continued improvement.

Key Deliverables by Day 90

1
Pilot Project ReportIf a pilot or proof of concept was conducted, this report summarises the methodology, results, and lessons learned. It should include initial performance metrics demonstrating the impact of the proposed changes.
2
Initial Performance MetricsQuantifiable data showing improvements in key operational metrics (e.g., reduced cycle time, lower error rates, improved throughput) as a direct result of the pilot or initial changes.
3
Implementation RoadmapA phased plan outlining the next steps for rolling out validated improvements across the organisation. This includes timelines, resource requirements, and success metrics. It is essential for ensuring that initial gains are sustained and expanded.
4
Training Outlines and Knowledge TransferPreliminary materials or plans for training staff on new processes or tools, alongside a clear strategy for transferring knowledge to your internal teams. This ensures your team can maintain and build upon the improvements.

Beyond Core Deliverables

Beyond the specific reports and plans, a good process improvement consultant also delivers less tangible but equally important outcomes. These include supporting a culture of continuous improvement, upskilling your internal teams, and providing an objective, external perspective. They act as a catalyst, helping your organisation see its operations through a new lens and enabling your team to drive change. The most effective consultants integrate well with your team, bringing outside experience to your unique challenges.

When evaluating the impact of a process improvement consultant in the first 90 days, focus on two key numbers: the reduction in process cycle time and the decrease in identified operational errors. These figures, directly measurable from your operational data, provide concrete evidence of value delivered.

The 90 days at a glance

Consultant activity mapped to the deliverable you should receive
Consultant Activity PhaseConcrete Deliverable You Should Receive
Understanding your current state and challengesInitial Assessment Report & Stakeholder Interview Summaries
Gathering and preparing operational dataData Inventory and Collection Plan
Analysing existing workflowsAs-Is Process Maps & Bottleneck Analysis Report
Identifying areas for improvementOpportunity Identification Matrix & Solution Concepts
Testing proposed changesPilot Project Report & Initial Performance Metrics
Planning for future improvementsImplementation Roadmap & Training Outlines

Related reading

Choosing who delivers this work matters as much as the deliverables. See how to choose a process mining implementation partner and the BPM consulting partner checklist.

Source: Bain & Company, 88% of business transformations fail to achieve their original ambitions (15 April 2024).

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