Rowtons Training Hub

Unlocking the Secrets to Operational Success

The Subway Dilemma: One-Piece Flow vs. Batch Production!

Subway is the 2nd biggest fast food chain in the world and although my personal guiltier pleasure is Maccy D’s, I do indulge with a Subway a little more often. Partly, because I think it's a bit healthier and partly because I like watching the live production line! “One Piece Flow” is the fabled ...

by Laurence Gartside — Jul 31, 2025 batch production batch size optimization customer wait time fast food operations food service operations laurence gartside lean manufacturing lean manufacturing a-z lean operations management lean thinking lean vs batch lean vs traditional manufacturing manufacturing flow design one-piece flow operations management academy operations strategy process flow strategy production efficiency rowtons training six sigma training subway production line throughput time work-in-progress inventory

The Kingman Law - How Being More “efficient” Can Destroy Your Operations!

Isn't it tempting… Taking on that extra job for a little extra revenue or trimming back on capacity that is sometimes idle… 100% capacity utilization may “seem” like the perfect balancing act between demand and capacity but it comes with some typically underappreciated, often devastating consequ...

by Laurence Gartside — Jul 14, 2025 advanced operations management capacity utilization efficiency vs effectiveness kingman law laurence gartside lean operations lean thinking manufacturing wait time operational efficiency operations improvement operations management operations management academy overutilization risks performance management process delays production scheduling queue time rowtons training system bottlenecks wait time in operations

The Greatest SMED Transformation! How F1 Pitstops Revolutionized Changeovers

One of the most inspiring aspects of working in business operations is to be able to see progress. However efficient and productive the system is today, it can always be better, and there will always be new problems but it's only when we compare it to what it “used” to look like that we can appre...

by Laurence Gartside — Jun 24, 2025 changeover time reduction continuous improvement f1 pitstop changeover formula 1 operations laurence gartside lean manufacturing lean manufacturing a-z lean manufacturing examples lean thinking lean tools lean transformation manufacturing efficiency operational excellence operations improvement operations management academy pitstop efficiency process improvement quick changeover rowtons training single minute exchange of die six sigma training smed

The Hidden Wastes Killing Your Efficiency (Muda, Muri & Mura)

“Eliminate waste” they say… That’s a pretty wholesome operations improvement concept… But there is a lot more to waste than wasted time or wasted materials. Many are far less visible. Muda, Muri & Mura are 3 catchy Japanese words and central to Lean thinking. Wasteful activities take many forms a...

by Laurence Gartside — Jun 09, 2025 continuous improvement in operations eliminate waste in manufacturing hidden wastes in operations laurence gartside lean efficiency tools lean manufacturing lean manufacturing course lean operations management lean process improvement lean thinking principles lean tools for efficiency lean training for managers muda muri mura operational efficiency improvement operations improvement strategies operations management academy rowtons training types of waste in lean waste reduction techniques what is muda what is mura what is muri

Where do Operations Managers come from?

A good one can make a business run like a dream, while a bad one can cost a company millions. Yet, finding skilled operations managers remains a challenge for many businesses. So where do they come from? Which one are you and what are your strengths and challenges of joining from this route? By t...

by Laurence Gartside — Mar 17, 2025 business courses business efficiency business operations business strategy business success career growth continuous improvement executive education graduate programs leadership development learn with me live webinar logistics management management skills manufacturing management new course launch online learning operations course operations leadership operations management operations training professional development project management supply chain management workforce management

What Do Operations Managers Actually Do? (It’s More Than You Think!)

Ever tried explaining your job as an Operations Manager at a party? If you have, you probably got a blank, confused look in return. Yet, everything we use, buy, and consume—from fast food and Amazon deliveries to hospital care and IT support—exists thanks to Operations Managers. So, what do they ...

by Laurence Gartside — Mar 14, 2025 business courses business efficiency business operations business strategy business success career growth continuous improvement executive education leadership development lean operations learn with me live webinar logistics management management skills manufacturing management new course launch online learning operations course operations leadership operations management operations training process improvement professional development project management service operations supply chain management workforce management

5 Key Steps to Propel Your Career in Operations Management

Got your eye on that next promotion, seeking to land your first career step into ops or maybe feeling this area of your business acumen is a little shakier than the rest? I’ve got some top tips for you. Here are five key actions from my eBook "Propel Your Career in Operations Management" that c...

by Laurence Gartside — Mar 12, 2025

The 4Vs of Operations: Where do your operations fit in?

Irrelevant or Dangerous.... Why is some operations management advice highly beneficial for certain operations but unsuitable—or even harmful—for others? Operations span a vast spectrum. How do we categorize them and refine their position among competitors? More importantly, how can we ensure tha...

by Laurence Gartside — Mar 10, 2025

What Makes Operations Truly Effective? Defining Success in Business Performance

What do we want from our operations? What defines better operational performance? What are we trying to achieve through our operations? Not easy questions - but when we think about what both customers want and the business owners want from business operations, we find that it distills down some ...

by Laurence Gartside — Feb 26, 2025