In a hurry? You can find Lean consulting services through referrals, professional directories, industry networks, and specialist consultancies.

The best choice depends on three things:

If you’re trying to improve lead times, quality, delivery performance or productivity, and you don’t fancy wasting money on the wrong support, this guide will help you choose well.

Prefer to speak to someone first? You can contact VA Innovation for a free consultation and a straight answer on what would help most (consulting, coaching or training).

A good Lean consultant doesn’t just “run workshops”. They help you identify what’s stopping flow and performance, fix it with your team, and put a management system in place so it doesn’t drift back.

Typical outputs you should expect:

• A clear baseline (what is happening now) and agreed success measures
• A current-state view (often a process map or value stream map)
• A practical improvement plan (what you’ll do, when, and with whom)
• Implementation support (not just advice)
• Sustainment (daily management, visual KPIs, standard work, controls)

If you want a refresher on the method itself, see What is Lean Six Sigma? and the Lean Six Sigma Glossary

There are several routes, and each has pros and cons. The trick is matching the route to your goal.

1. Referrals and word-of-mouth

Best when: you can get a referral from a similar organisation with similar challenges.

Watch out for: “They were great” without any evidence of measurable results or sustainment.

Best when: you want people who understand your sector (manufacturing, services, healthcare, etc.).

Watch out for: consultants who mainly do talks/webinars but little delivery.

Best when: your priority is building internal capability and you already have leaders who will drive implementation.

Watch out for: training-only offers that leave you with certificates but no improved performance. If you’re exploring training, start here: Lean Six Sigma Training & Coaching

Best when: you have a very clear problem, a defined scope, and you need short, tactical support.

Watch out for: capacity constraints and limited ability to scale support across teams.

Best when: you want measurable performance improvement and capability building, with a repeatable approach.

Watch out for: big promises without a measurement plan. If you’re looking for a specialist consultancy with structured delivery, you can explore VA Innovation’s Consultancy Packages and browse industry case studies

Here’s a simple way to spot quality quickly. A good consultancy will welcome these questions.

If you want to see what “good” looks like before buying anything, check the way VA Innovation structures delivery across sectors on the Industry Case Studies page.

If you see any of these, slow down and ask harder questions

• Guaranteed savings without a baseline, assumptions or measurement plan
• Lots of jargon, little clarity (“We do OpEx transformations” with no specifics)
• They avoid frontline engagement (no gemba, no real process observation)
• The proposal is based on “days” not deliverables
• No plan for sustainment (what happens after the workshop?)
• They push a tool/software platform immediately (before understanding the process)
• No evidence of capability building, only dependency

Quality consultancies will talk openly about risks, data limitations and what’s required from leadership. If they don’t, that’s your answer.

A solid Lean consulting proposal should include:

• Scope: what’s in and what’s out (no surprises)
• Baseline & data needs: what they need from you and when
• Deliverables: what you’ll have in your hands at each stage
• Timeline: milestones and decision points
• Roles & responsibilities: what you do vs what they do
• Measurement plan: which metrics, how tracked, how often reviewed
• Sustainment: how the improvements stay in place

If you want to see how VA Innovation structures this, our packaged approach is laid out on Consultancy Packages

Most Lean consulting fits into one of these models:

</p> <h3>1) Rapid diagnostic (typically 1–2 weeks)</h3> <p><strong>Best for:</strong> getting clarity fast.</p> <p><strong>You should get:</strong> baseline, opportunity sizing, a prioritised roadmap, and a practical next-step plan.</p> <h3>2) Pilot programme (typically 4–8 weeks)</h3> <p><strong>Best for:</strong> proving value quickly on one value stream/process.</p> <p><strong>You should get:</strong> measurable improvement in flow + a repeatable method your team can copy.</p> <h3>3) 90-day performance sprint</h3> <p><strong>Best for:</strong> meaningful results with capability built in.</p> <p><strong>You should get:</strong> improved performance + daily management + leaders coached to sustain and scale.</p> <h3>4) Coaching/mentoring retainer</h3> <p><strong>Best for:</strong> building internal capability with accountability and governance.</p> <p><strong>If you’re not sure which you need:</strong> start with a short scoping call via <a href="/contact">Contact</a>. VA Innovation will typically recommend the smallest intervention that will deliver results (and tell you honestly if you don’t need consulting).</p>

If you’re not sure which you need, start with a short scoping call via Contact. VA Innovation will typically recommend the smallest intervention that will deliver results (and tell you honestly if you don’t need consulting).

It all depends on your starting point, leadership commitment, and how tightly you scope the work. But a well-run 90-day sprint should deliver:

• Measurable movement in 1–3 priority metrics (e.g., lead time, OTIF, quality, WIP)
• Clear process stability improvements (less firefighting, fewer handover failures)
• A functioning management cadence (tier meetings, action reviews, KPI visibility)
• Capability: your people know how to repeat the approach

If you’d like to see examples of outcomes by sector, browse Industry Case Studies (including Manufacturing)

These often get mixed up, so here’s the plain-English version:

• Training builds knowledge and tools. It works best when you already have time and leadership support to implement.
• Consulting focuses on delivery and outcomes (with your team), usually faster.
• Coaching builds internal leaders and capability, helping sustain and scale.

For most SMEs, the best route is a blended approach: training + coached delivery. Explore options here: Lean Six Sigma Training & Certification

You can pick any consultancy. The question is: will you get measurable improvement and a system that sustains it? VA Innovation is a specialist Lean Six Sigma consultancy that focuses on practical delivery and capability building.

Clients typically choose VA Innovation because:

• We keep it practical, real processes, real data, real implementation
• We focus on measurable outcomes (not just workshop activity
• We build internal capability so improvements stick
• We offer clear, structured engagement options via Consultancy Packages
• We can deliver UK-wide, see UK Locations

Next step: If you’d like a quick sanity check on where Lean will have the biggest impact in your business, book a free consultation via Contact

For more common questions, see Lean Six Sigma FAQs

If you’re exploring Lean consulting services and want to avoid costly false starts, speak to VA Innovation first. You’ll get a clear recommendation on the best path (diagnostic, sprint, coaching or training) and what success should look like.

Book a free consultation or explore Consultancy Packages.