Through our monthly Provider Spotlight series, we are shining a light on our loyal band of expert champions called ‘Providers’; offering their extensive knowledge and guidance to help you reach your goals.
In our latest Spotlight, we focus on 3ABEL, a leading consultancy in operational excellence and business improvement through ‘People, Process, Passion’.
Hear from Director, Alan Lothian, as he explains more about 3ABEL and the unique support that SC21 (Supply Chains for the 21st Century) brings. Alan also co-hosts The Rest is Lean Podcast, sharing insights, interviews, and real-world stories to inspire continuous improvement and lean leadership.
3ABEL – Leaders in operational excellence and business improvement
Tell us about 3ABEL
3ABEL supports all businesses passionate about achieving strategic objectives, achieving their growth aspirations, and developing their people.
We have developed a unique blend of support to help you design and deliver sustainable success, resulting in passionate people and profitable processes.
We focus on:
- Lean Manufacturing: Streamlining operations to reduce waste, improve SQCDP, and ultimately cashflow, with a focus on providing sustainable value for stakeholders.
- People Development: Enhancing leadership and team capabilities.
- Recruitment: Sourcing middle and senior managers aligned with the correct skills.
- Lean Accounting & Financial Training: Making financials accessible to non-financial managers.
- Exit Strategy & Business Resale Support: Preparing businesses for successful transitions
What sets us apart from other organisations is the extent of our knowledge gained from…
- Japanese Training from Toyota, Nissan & Honda: capabilities and experience that go back decades. Practitioners with direct insights into world-class lean practices. This includes mentorship from those directly trained by Taiichi Ohno himself, considered to be the father of the Toyota Production System.
- Theory of Constraints with Goldratt: Proven methods to unlock bottlenecks and accelerate flow.
- Over 20 Years of Leadership Experience: We’ve led successful companies and understand the realities of business transformation. Our team are not consultants but leaders who have lived and breathed the responsibility of transitioning business success.
We’re proud of the above capability and enjoy helping companies focus and achieve success!
Why 3ABEL supports SC21
SC21 is a recognised improvement programme in the UK aerospace and defence sectors. Many of the 3ABEL team have worked in those sectors for many years, and understand the challenges it faces, but more so an approach which provides greater competitiveness by…
- Achieving sustainable performance improvements.
- Building stronger supply chain relationships.
- Gaining recognition for operational excellence.
It aligns with our mission, and we are proud to be a trusted improvement partner, guiding companies through the SC21 journey with our tailored support.
Improvements seen through SC21
Businesses working with 3ABEL on SC21 typically achieve:
- Reduced lead times and improved delivery performance.
- Higher quality standards and fewer defects.
- Stronger customer satisfaction and supplier ratings.
- Cultural transformation through increased manager effectiveness and enhanced team engagement.
Advice for New SC21 Participants
For companies new to SC21, we recommend:
- Start with a clear baseline: Understand your current performance.
- Engage your people early: Improvement is a team effort.
- Focus on quick wins: Build momentum with achievable goals.
- Choose the right partner: Work with experienced guides like 3ABEL.
- Commit to continuous improvement: SC21 is a journey, not a one-off project.
Training Offered by 3ABEL
We deliver practical, high-impact, sustainable training including:
- Lean Leadership & Culture based on Toyota Production System Principles
- Problem Solving & Kaizen
- Lean Accounting for Non-Financial Managers
- Theory of Constraints (ToC) and (Rules of Flow/CCPM for Project Environments)
- Support for Quality standards and Core Tools
- Exit Strategy Planning
Benefits of our training include:
- Increased productivity and morale.
- Better decision-making across all levels.
- Stronger alignment between strategy and operations.
Contact:
Alan Lothian – Director
3A Business Excellence Ltd (3ABEL)
- M: +44 (0)7708 250775
- E: alan.lothian@aaabel.co.uk
- W: www.aaabel.co.uk
Listen to: The Rest is Lean Podcast
#beablewith3abel
