Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: I already know the problems at my plant. Do I still need to use your Three Phase Attack (IIIpa)?

Answer: Sometimes, when a client is tied so closely to a situation, it’s hard for that person to see the real implication of solving a problem. Sure, the client knows what the main challenges are, but he or she hasn’t been able to quantify them or prioritize them. We can take an objective, third-party view at your challenges and see which ones are keeping you from realizing your goals. This can be done without fully utilizing the IIIpa.

Question 2: How can you help us with our employee turnover?

Answer: Solving problems starts with identifying and defining them first. Is labor in your market scarce? Would automation help resolve labor issues? What would the emotional or moral impact of implementing the solution be to your labor force? Our goal is to find out why the turnover exists in the first place, then seek to overcome that challenge in conjunction with your management team.

Question 3: I only need to know about 3-5 pieces of information a day about my production process, but the software packages I’m looking at are overwhelming and cumbersome. Do you have a solution?

Answer: Whatever your situation, it is unique. The correct fix is not to apply your problem to a pre-packaged solution. KSolutions is dedicated to providing our clients with unique, custom-tailored solutions that fit the problem. Customized software development is one of our core competencies.

Question 4: I have a specialty machine that I need someone to design and build. Do you have a source?

Answer: We have the capability to develop customized products to your application. If the solution is outside of our area of expertise, we rely upon the relationships we’ve developed during our 33 years of existence with world class designers and manufacturers to provide you with the correct custom solution.

Question 5: I have already implemented Lean Manufacturing in my plant. How can you help us?

Answer: Lean Manufacturing is a hot topic today and rightly so. Toyota has used the Lean tools to become the world’s number 1 automaker. KSolutions can work within your Lean culture to surgically determine where the waste still remains or where the flow is interrupted. We then can help you define what is creating the problems and put you on a path of determining the correct solution.

Question 6: I do not have a capital budget this year, but I know I have many areas to improve. How can KSolutions help me?

Answer: By enlisting the help of a third-party expert, you can begin the process of identifying and prioritizing your main concerns to address. Amelia Earhardt said that “Preparation is rightly two-thirds of any venture.” You may not have the capital to implement solutions, but the most important work takes place up front in the planning and discovery phases.

Question 7: Our industry is generally 40-50 years behind when it comes to automation. Can automation really help me?

Answer: Not every time. Your people and culture must be willing to embrace automation and its benefits. If your people don’t accept automation as a tool for improving efficiencies, then your investment will not experience the return you need. However, studies show that, if done correctly, most automation projects have a maximum 3 year ROI.

Question 8: I cannot get the daily production out of my system, even though it’s “designed” to accommodate 120% of my goal. What’s wrong?

Answer: You need to have an objective third party observe your processes, interview key employees in management as well as on the plant floor, and document their findings in a fact-based, objective write-up. Sometimes, seeing it in black and white crystallizes the real issues.

Question 9: Every hour that my plant is down costs the company $100,000 What safeguards can I put in place to eliminate down time?

Answer: First of all, you need to be informed. What is causing the downtime? Why? When does it occur? We can get you started using the principles from question 8 above.

Question 10: Can I monitor my plant production systems remotely?

Answer: Absolutely. Again, we can customize our software to give you only the information you need rather than applying an off-the-shelf package that’s cumbersome or provides you with too much information. We can allow you to monitor your systems from a desktop, a laptop, or even your cell phone.

Question 11: What makes KSolutions unique, different or better than any other consulting firm?

Answer: Our people, our up-front approach, our objective solution generation, and the fact that you need to write only one PO for a start-to-finish solution. We do it all, by the way. We’re not just a firm of "experts". We’re a manufacturer ourselves and we’ve implemented construction projects in nearly every industry, from the biggest General Motors projects to the smallest local grain elevators. See our tab titled “Why Us?”.

Question 12: Will you provide references? If so, when?

Answer: We have references available upon request. To find out “What our Customers are Saying” see our tab titled "Testimonials".

Question 13: What are the backgrounds of your people?

Answer: Our engineering backgrounds are in electrical, mechanical, software, and industrial.

Question 14: Some consultants do not charge for their analysis work. Will you charge us for your Discovery and Preparation Phase?

Answer: Yes. The old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” If we were to provide our expertise during this phase for free, the tendency would be to cut corners and not provide the value that we can provide. We wouldn’t provide the value, and you wouldn’t be satisfied.

Question 15: How do you make your money?

Answer: KSolutions works on a fee-basis for the up-front Discovery, Planning, and Solution Generation expertise we provide. If you elect to have us provide the implementation, we waive the fee, and charge the customer based upon shared savings within a three-year ROI.

Question 16: When are you paid?

Answer: During the consulting phase, we will invoice monthly plus expenses at 10%. Terms are net 30. During the implementation phase, we will invoice 25% ARO, 50% at engineering design and approval, and the remaining 25% at production run.

Question 17: How do you measure savings or financial improvements?

Answer: The client and KSolutions agree to the metrics that will quantify the savings. This can differ for every project, but usually three key variables are identified and measured.

Question 18: How does the Guarantee work?

Answer: KSolutions will put 25% of the implementation contract at risk. In other words, KSolutions guarantees that the agreed upon ROI will come to pass or the client will receive a 25% reduction of the implementation contract.

Question 19: How do you ensure that the savings will continue after you leave?

Answer: KSolutions will return to the project site and perform a health assessment on the implemented system for three straight years. This assessment will be based on the agreed upon metrics and key variables for that project.