NX

Operations Excellence Firm — North America

We Don't Advise.
We Implement.

Nextep embeds directly in your facility — leading lean programs, engineering production systems, and delivering verified financial results. No slide decks. No recommendations left on the table.

$35M+ Total Client Savings Delivered
12x+ Avg. ROI Delivered
40%+ Avg. OEE Improvement
16+ Custom Systems Deployed
10+ Industries Served
Operations Excellence Assessment Lean Implementation 3P Production Preparation Kaizen Events Custom Dashboards & ERP / MES Systems Production Data Systems Value Stream Mapping Standard Work SMED & Changeover Reduction OEE Analysis Operations Excellence Assessment Lean Implementation 3P Production Preparation Kaizen Events Custom Dashboards & ERP / MES Systems Production Data Systems Value Stream Mapping Standard Work SMED & Changeover Reduction OEE Analysis

The Nextep Difference

Most Firms Leave
You With A Report.
We Leave You
With Results.

Management consultants are good at identifying problems. They're not built to solve them. Nextep is different — we're an embedded implementation firm. We sit inside your facility, lead your improvement programs, and don't leave until the numbers are on the board.

Every engagement is led by a practitioner who has run operations, run Kaizens, and built systems that survive the week after we're gone.

  • Others
    Advisory reports & recommendations Embedded program leadership
  • Others
    Slide decks & frameworks Verified financial results
  • Others
    Junior consultants on rotation Senior practitioner on-site
  • Others
    Methodology for hire Capability building that sticks

Verified Client Results

The Numbers
Speak For Themselves.

All results independently verified from engagement records. Client details withheld on request.

Combined Track Record — Across All Engagements

$35M+

Total Client Savings Delivered

10+
Industries
30+
Engagements
25+
Yrs Combined
$1.1M Verified Savings — Month 5

Significantly ahead of the planned savings target. Five parallel improvement workstreams running simultaneously — Kaizen, SMED, DMAIC, reliability, and winder optimization.

→ $2.64M+ projected annual run rate at this trajectory
Pulp & Paper
72%+ Reduction in Missed Turn-Ups

SMED deployment and changeover redesign eliminated the single largest source of unplanned downtime. Results verified from engagement records.

→ Sustains gains across every production shift going forward
Pulp & Paper
65%+ Cycle Time Reduction

Full 3P implementation — Seven Flows analysis, 7-Ways workshop, moonshine prototyping — delivered alongside a complete new production line standup.

→ Every unit produced captures the full cycle time gain permanently
Aerospace & Defense

What We Implement

Five Ways Nextep
Moves Your Needle.

01

Operations Excellence Assessment

A structured, data-driven diagnostic that maps your entire waste picture in weeks. Value stream mapping, OEE analysis, utilization deep-dive, speed & waste quantification — all anchored to real plant data. You leave knowing exactly where the money is and what it will take to capture it.

Learn more →
02

Lean Implementation & Program Leadership

Embedded, multi-workstream improvement programs led by a Nextep practitioner on-site. Kaizen events, SMED, DMAIC, standard work deployment, visual management — with custom dashboards, ERP and MES integration, and weekly executive reporting built in from day one.

Learn more →
03

3P — Production Preparation Process

For new production lines or radical process redesign. Nextep leads the full 3P cycle: Seven Flows analysis, 7-Ways workshops, moonshine prototyping, takt time design, standard work development, and complete physical line standup. Built with your people. Owned by your team.

Learn more →
04

Production Data & Digital Systems

Real-time production visibility purpose-built for the shop floor. Nextep designs and deploys PLC-integrated data capture, custom dashboards, ERP and MES systems, predictive analytics, and mobile access — purpose-built to give management and operators the same live picture of what's happening on the line.

Learn more →
05

Operations Staffing & Talent Solutions

When you need experienced operations talent fast — Nextep sources, vets, and places lean leaders, industrial engineers, operations managers, and continuous improvement practitioners. Every candidate is evaluated against real plant floor criteria, not just a resume. We find people who can do the work, not just describe it.

Learn more →

Case Studies

Real Work.
Verified Results.

View All Case Studies →
Pulp & Paper Program Lead

Operations Excellence: Pulp & Paper Manufacturer

Embedded multi-workstream program standing up a full improvement system from scratch — Kaizen, SMED, DMAIC, reliability, and winder optimization running simultaneously, with custom dashboards and weekly executive reporting.

$1.1M Verified savings through Month 5 → $2.64M+ projected annual run rate at this trajectory
Packaging & Print Program Lead

Operations Excellence Assessment: Packaging Manufacturer

Four-pillar structured assessment: VSM, OEE Analysis, Utilization Deep-Dive, and Speed & Waste Quantification — all anchored to actual plant data. Mapped 80% of production volume and confirmed bottleneck location.

$247K Q1 waste losses identified and quantified → $988K+ annual waste elimination opportunity identified
Aerospace & Defense Lean Consultant

3P Implementation: Aerospace & Defense Manufacturer

Full 3P engagement on a new production line — Seven Flows analysis, 7-Ways workshop, moonshine prototyping, continuous flow design, standard work, and complete physical line standup. (ITAR-controlled program — client details withheld.)

65%+ Cycle time reduction — new production line stood up → Cycle time gains compound across every unit produced going forward
Industrial Manufacturing Technology Lead

Production Data Management System Build

Designed and deployed a full Tier 2 Production Data Management System from scratch: PLC integration, real-time custom dashboards, ERP/MES configuration, predictive analytics, and mobile access — delivered in 3–4 weeks with 6 months of ongoing support.

3–4 Wks From kickoff to live production data on the floor → Ongoing predictive analytics identify issues before they become downtime
"

Our partnership elevated our operations excellence strategy. The expert leadership in Kaizen projects drove significant yield improvements and cost savings. Better maintenance planning also improved plant equipment reliability — setting us up for lasting success.

VP / General Manager North American Manufacturing Client

Industries Served

We Work Where
Manufacturing Is Hard.