What We Do > Industrial Engineering

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The Challenge

For any business environment, productivity implies that maximum output is obtained from the minimum resources; efficiency implies that processes run with minimum comebacks; effectiveness implies well thought out strategic plans and targets. Still employees seem to struggle to meet these objectives as the tools they have were not implemented with these targets and objectives in mind. Often the underlying processes pull the business units activities against the strategic direction. These need to be understood and reworked to assist in being effective. Fourier Approach prides itself in its alignment of the business applications and processes to the strategic direction of the client. Many companies have processes and hence the business achieves the desired result. Productivity, efficiency and effectiveness each have different objectives and in a complex and dynamic environments in which business operates, Industrial Engineers are required to integrate all resources to optimum results.

The Solution

Industrial engineering business processes

Fourier Approach uses Industrial Engineers to ensure that processes are critically reviewed and re-engineered. The impact and value-add contribution of any proposed change to an activity or process is calculated, evaluated and predicted to ensure that the most value is added and that companies make the right decisions the first time, every time.

Fourier sees Business Process Management as an encompassing function that incorporates traditional Business Process Definition, Business Process Improvement, Business Simulation / Decision Support and Business Process Automation (transactional or workflow systems). It is guided by strategy and makes use of business intelligence to monitor and measure its performance.

A graphical depiction of the Fourier’s approach towards Business Process Management is shown:

When looking at Business Process Definition and Business Process Improvement, companies traditionally have only mapped and documented their processes without critically considering the added value of specific activities performed as part of the process. These ungrounded processes very often then form the basis for workflow or transactional systems that just leads to further complications and operational challenges.

Incremental process improvement initiatives that are integrated with business process definition, identify potential improvements on existing processes, but perpetuate inherent inefficiencies as it does not truly and critically challenge the contribution and impact of each activity in the process. Each process change and improvement should have substantial contribution and impact on the organization.

Industrial Engineers are trained and schooled in various techniques and methods to ensure optimal productivity, efficiency and effectiveness over the entire life-cycle of the project (i.e. from initial capital expenditure through continuous operations until de-commissioning or replacement).