James B. Ayers
Principal

Sample Projects

Supply Chain Management Projects

• Teamwork with numerous clients to develop strategies for using supply chain design to better compete.
    
• Cost optimization across the supply chain including sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.
    
• Development and implementation of an operations strategic plan with a major aerospace company. The multi-year program addressed numerous improvement opportunities.
    
• Prepared facilities plan for a maker of pacemakers and defibrillators. The project included design of methods and procedures through the entire production cycle and preparation of an information systems plan.
    
• Consultation to a systems integrator serving government markets in developing logistics integration services for commercial markets. The effort included comprehensive surveying.
    
• Redesign of processes for introducing new releases for a music company. Involved facilitation of “stream team” to achieve shorter cycle times.
    
• Led consulting team in company-wide quality training effort. Personally aided client team in reducing lead-time by implementing cellular manufacturing and reducing material lead-time.
    
• Supplier and inventory reduction for commercial alarm company. Included inventory segmentation and strategies for supplier reduction.
    
• Marketing strategy for a supplier to electronics industry for a variety of products. Worked with client team to jointly develop product-by-product strategies.
    
• Assessment of the material purchasing and distribution network for a California-based public agency.
    
• Consulting to a Mexican automotive supplier seeking to expand its value-added in products delivered to customers’ assembly plants in North America.

Strategy & Operations Projects

• Assessment of advance quality planning process for large US automaker. This process includes early interventions with suppliers associated with product launches and weight/cost modifications to parts. These interventions are meant to eliminate defects in assembly plants.
    
• Consulting to the R&D group at a US chemical company and its partner in introducing a technology for gas separation.
    
• Assistance to two Fortune 500 companies seeking to develop a new shipping and logistics industry service based on a radically new product. Services included design of the manufacturing structure and evaluating the feasibility of the business.
    
• Developed supply chain strategy for manufacturer serving international markets. Services included customer surveys in an industry undergoing dramatic shifts in supply channels.
    
• Facilitated a electronic company’s team activity aimed at reducing its bill of material cost. Prepared diverse strategies including negotiations, sourcing, and supply chain improvement.

Healthcare Management Projects

• Supported a team of physicians in a large group practice to develop peer review methodology. Implemented methodology on a trial basis.
    
• Helped chiefs of service in multiple specialties to develop planning models to assure high levels of patient service provided in the most economic fashion.
    
• Worked with a team of medical group leaders in a managed care setting to design the basis for their compensation, including an element of incentive compensation.
    
• Planned outpatient facility requirements for an integrated multi-specialty facility with volumes of about 1000 patients per day.
    
• Reviewed support staffing and scheduling for nursing and administrative support for outpatient services.