Press Releases & News

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LONDON, United Kingdom – ASOS.com, the UK’s leading online fashion store has launched http://www.asosfollowsfashion.com, a Twitter application aggregating the latest tweets from fashion industry insiders and influencers.

Commenting on the launch, James Hart, eCommerce Director at ASOS.com, said: “We’ve been chatting to our customers through social media for a few years now but our ASOS colleagues also follow and interact with some of fashion’s greatest through Twitter. With asosfollowsfashion.com, we get to share this passion. It’s a simple tool with a simple goal really; to connect fashion-loving people with real time news and views from the best of the fashion world.”

Featuring categories like ‘The Brands’, ‘The Bloggers’ and ‘The A-List’, asosfollowsfashion.com helps users to discover interesting fashion tweeters and view real-time fashion news and stories. Encouraging users to help curate the list of featured tweeters, the application also invites them to share their view and highlight any accounts that should be added.

“ASOS.com’s continued growth is due to their consistent ability to innovate with their online activity,” said James Haycock, Managing Director of AdaptiveLab, the creative technology company that built the social media application. “Their open approach to including competitors on the site demonstrates that they really understand the role their brand can play when it comes to social interaction, as this application positions them as a useful resource that will have continued relevance.”

About AdaptiveLab
AdaptiveLab is a London-based creative technology company. The company designs innovative online products and services (that it launches under its own name and creates tailor-made) for clients such as ASOS.com and YouGov Plc. http://www.adaptivelab.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/adaptive_lab

About ASOS.com
Established in June 2000, ASOS.com is the UK’s largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer with over 35,000 products and 1500 new lines added each week. Aimed primarily at fashionably aware 16-34 year olds, the site attracts over 6.9million unique visitors per month and has in excess of 2.9million registered users. http://www.asos.com http://www.twitter.com/asos http://www.asosfollowsfashion.com

For further information, images and samples please contact:

Amy Davies
asos.com
Greater London House
Hampstead Road
London
NW1 7FB

+44 (0)20 7836 1284
press@asos.com
http://www.asos.com

Submitted by:
John Wood
+44 (0)777 152 0001
jw@worldwidepr.net
http://www.worldwidepr.net
http://twitter.com/worldwidepr
London, United Kingdom
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Over the last couple of weeks Mark Eaton, of the quality, innovation and productivity organisation Amnis, has spoken at two conferences organised by the Health Service Journal (HSJ), the UK’s leading source of news and information on health management. The conferences covered Lean healthcare and leadership.

According to HSJ, the Lean healthcare conference was intended to provide delegates with the knowledge and skills to get Lean off the ground in their organisation and across the patient pathway. The key speakers offered insights into how to embed the principles of Lean in delegates’ organisation processes and in their workforce culture.

“Although the concept of Lean has been around for years, there is still much to be done to embed the key elements of Lean in the NHS,” commented Mark Eaton.

“Recognising the benefits of reducing waste and promoting efficiency, many healthcare organisations have embarked on a journey of Lean and have reaped the benefits. By streamlining processes and eliminating waste across the whole patient pathway, service improvement can move away from silo-thinking and deliver real efficiency,” he said.

Among the positive and enthusiastic feedback from delegates was this comment from Phil Annal, of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust, and Project Manager at North Cornwall Mental Health Integrated Care Pilot (ICP): “I thought the event was excellent and Mark Eaton’s presentation really hit home on some key issues for us. In particular, I found the Desire/Risk 2×2 matrix and the ‘Pressure, Vision, Internal Skills, Continuous Improvement’ table most helpful.”

End

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

The partnership between Amnis and the Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is entering its fifth year with the first of six one-day masterclasses that are scheduled to occur throughout 2010. Over the last five years the partnership between Amnis and the IOM has produced over 50 joint events, involving several thousand participants.

In addition, Amnis and the IOM have announced two further versions of Amnis’s flagship Lean training programme – known as the ‘Accelerated Lean Skills Programme’ (ALSP).

The three-day ALSP takes participants from beginner to practitioner level and gives them the skills to lead their first projects within the healthcare sector. The programme, which has over 3,000 successful graduates at present, fits into Amnis’ Lean Leader Programme – a scheme of study for those wishing to further develop their Lean-related knowledge and expertise.

Participants receive all materials, guides and follow-up telephone and email support, as well as a book by Amnis’ Mark Eaton, the programme lead. The three days of training broadly cover:

• Day 1 – Lean Basics & Core Lean Tools (Part 1)
• Day 2 – Value Stream Mapping & Core Lean Tools (Part 2)
• Day 3 – Lean Simulation & Making Lean Programmes Work

Among the comments from participants on previous ALSPs are:

• “It was an all-round excellent theoretical and practical course which has given me real confidence in leading colleagues through a structured approach to continuous improvement.” (Mike Hill, Head of Trading Standards, Essex County Council)
• “This course was a useful and informative introduction to Lean skills and has provided me with ideas and a means to put them into practice.” (Laura Castell, Network Manager, Shell)
• “It was highly interactive. The programme had a good pace, great content and I really enjoyed the simulation exercises.” (Alicia Dermott, GM Distribution, Asda)

The series of one-day masterclasses covers:

• Understanding Lean (9^th March, London) – Covering the basic principles of Lean and providing an overview of the key tools
• Value Stream Mapping (23^rd March, Corby) – Focusing on those who have already gained an understanding of Lean and its principles
• Lean for Managers and Executives (20^th April, London) – Exploring the management systems and structures that are needed to make Lean work and to create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Standard Work (4^th May, Corby) – Examining 5S and Standard Work, tools used in Lean programmes.
• Expert in Lean (8^th June, London) – For those who have extensive knowledge of Lean, this masterclass reviews Lean tools and concepts including Heijunka, Jidoka and TPM.
• Sustaining Lean (22^nd June, Corby) – Examining the key skills required to deliver successful improvement.

For further details about the Amnis/ IOM ALSPs and the series of one-day masterclasses, contact Ruth Bodman (ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com) or visit http://www.downloads.amnis.uk.com/IOM2010.pdf.

End

About the Accelerated Lean Skills Programme (ALSP)

This fast paced and highly interactive programme gives participants the understanding and experience to enable them to successfully participate in Lean programmes within healthcare organisations. The programme covers all the basic concepts of Lean and how these can be turned into successful Lean events and programmes. The programme is accredited by the Institute for Healthcare Management (IHM) and involves three days of training and a short post-training project for which telephone and email support is available.

The three days of training broadly cover:

• Day 1 – Lean Basics & Core Lean Tools (Part 1)
• Day 2 – Value Stream Mapping & Core Lean Tools (Part 2)
• Day 3 – Lean Simulation & Making Lean Programmes Work

The course is aimed at those with little or no knowledge of Lean and those looking to take their basic knowledge to a higher level.

The Accelerated Lean Skills Programme is accredited by the Institute of Healthcare Management and provides recognition under their CPD scheme. Successful graduates of the programme receive an endorsed certificate. The Programme is intended for senior staff, managers and above working with healthcare organisations which are being tasked with either participating in a Lean programme or are required to look at making Lean work within their own areas.

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

After running a series of popular one-day workshop masterclasses with the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM), the quality, innovation and productivity organisation Amnis has now announced plans to run two Accelerated Lean Skills Programmes (ALSPs) with the Institute.

The three-day ALSP takes participants from beginner to practitioner level in Lean and gives them the skills to lead their first projects within the healthcare sector. The programme fits into Amnis’ Lean Leader Programme, for those wishing to further develop their Lean-related knowledge and expertise.

Participants receive all materials, guides and follow-up telephone and email support, as well as a book by Amnis’ Mark Eaton, the programme lead.

Eaton, who is the author of ‘Lean for Practitioners’ and ‘Sustaining Lean Healthcare Programmes’ as well as over 50 articles and books on topics related to organisational development, Lean and change, commented: “The programme is a new venture between Amnis and the IHM but it is tried-and-tested – with over 3,000 successful graduates at present. Normally, Amnis runs the programme on-site for healthcare clients – so this is a rare opportunity to attend an open programme.”

For further details about the Amnis/ IHM ALSPs, contact Ruth Bodman (ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com) or visit http://www.ihm.org.uk/events/view/527.

End

About the Accelerated Lean Skills Programme (ALSP)

This fast paced and highly interactive programme gives participants the understanding and experience to enable them to successfully participate in Lean programmes within healthcare organisations. The programme covers all the basic concepts of Lean and how these can be turned into successful Lean events and programmes. The programme is accredited by the Institute for Healthcare Management (IHM) and involves three days of training and a short post-training project for which telephone and email support is available.

The three days of training broadly cover:

• Day 1 – Lean Basics & Core Lean Tools (Part 1)
• Day 2 – Value Stream Mapping & Core Lean Tools (Part 2)
• Day 3 – Lean Simulation & Making Lean Programmes Work

The course is aimed at those with little or no knowledge of Lean and those looking to take their basic knowledge to a higher level.

The Accelerated Lean Skills Programme is accredited by the Institute of Healthcare Management and provides recognition under their CPD scheme. Successful graduates of the programme receive an endorsed certificate. The Programme is intended for senior staff, managers and above working with healthcare organisations which are being tasked with either participating in a Lean programme or are required to look at making Lean work within their own areas.

About the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM)

The IHM is the professional organisation for managers throughout healthcare, including the NHS; Independent Providers; Healthcare Consultants and the Armed Forces.

The IHM’s focus is on improving patient/user care wherever and whenever healthcare is needed. The route to achieving this is through the promotion of excellence in healthcare management.

The IHM achieves this by:

• Publishing standards of management practice
• Promoting the IHM Code (covering behavioural and ethical aspects of management practice)
• Establishing a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) framework
• Promoting CPD and moving towards implementing a CPD validation mechanism
• Holding CPD events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Establishing a coaches database to support members when they choose an executive coach

The IHM has access to the highest offices of the NHS. Many of the senior players in the NHS are members of the IHM. More importantly, by promoting CPD, the IHM influences the management practice of thousands of managers.

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

Roger Piepenstock has joined the quality, innovation and productivity organisation Amnis to lead their Lean Team within the Local Government and Health sectors.

Piepenstock is a chief executive with extensive experience in Lean, business development, strategic planning and marketing. His experience includes the introduction of transformational change, Lean and similar initiatives, both in the UK and overseas and he has established efficient businesses around the world.

In addition to managing and leading organisations and introducing transformational change, he has supported the development of major public programmes aimed at transforming a wide range of industrial sectors.

A former pupil of Harrow School, he holds an MBA (from American International University of London). For the last ten years he has been a member of the Board of Made in London and, among other things, is a veteran of the Honourable Artillery Company.

Commenting on his joining Amnis’ Local Government & Health team, Piepenstock said: “I am delighted to be working again with Amnis’ managing director, Mark Eaton.

“Having delivered Lean to a number of organisations over the last 18 years – including being Chairman of the Manufacturing Advisory Service for London who were introducing Lean to London based Manufacturers – I’m impressed with the Amnis methodology. Unlike some other firms offering Lean support, Amnis really does transfer the skills and techniques to it customers.

“In my experience, this is the only way to make Lean programmes successful in the long term. Many Lean programmes fail because the consultants who have been driving them have finished their contract. Successful implementations are, usually, where the skills and knowledge have been transferred to the organisation and the philosophy becomes part of the culture.

“I’m impressed by my team’s experience and commitment and I’m glad to be part of such a dynamic organisation,” he added.

Mark Eaton, managing director of Amnis, commented: “It is rare to find someone of Roger’s calibre and experience who is able to share it so willingly and with such enthusiasm. We’re delighted that Roger has joined Amnis – and, we believe our clients will be too.”

End

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

The healthcare quality, innovation and productivity organisation, Amnis, has agreed a further programme of one-day workshop masterclasses with the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM). This extends the relationship between the two organisations as a result of extremely positive feedback from delegates to the series of workshop masterclasses that these two organisations ran at various venues around the country last year.

Beginning with ‘Lean Fundamentals for Managers & Executives’ (24^th May), the series continues with ‘Problem Solving Tools for Service Improvement’ (7^th June); ‘Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement’ (13^th September); ‘Thinking Strategically’ (28^th September); ‘Value Stream Mapping’ (12^th October); ‘Managing a Lean/Service Improvement Programme’ (22^nd November), and ‘The Lean Toolkit for Service Improvement’ (7^th February 2011).

“Each Masterclass, which will run from 10.30am till 3.30pm, can accommodate up to 30 participants,” said the IHM’s Phil Slinger. “In the light of the growing popularity of these masterclasses, we’ve been encouraged to extend both their number and the topics they cover.

“These one day events tackle key issues in today’s healthcare sector,” he added.

“These are vital issues for healthcare managers – and their approach to these issues has important consequences for their staff and those for whom they care. So we’re delighted to make these highly significant events available to our members. They also qualify attendees for award of continuing professional development points that will enhance their development portfolios.”

The IHM is the professional organisation for managers throughout healthcare – including the NHS; independent providers; healthcare consultants and the Armed Forces. Its focus is on improving patient/user care through the promotion of excellence in healthcare management.

Amnis’ Mark Eaton, added: “As an organisation which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation, Amnis helps its clients not only to deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

“So, our partnership with the IHM is intended to help develop the skills and capabilities of healthcare managers working across the UK.

“Following the success of our series of masterclasses run in association with the IHM in 2009, there are signs that these events are meeting their objectives and improving standards of management within the UK’s healthcare sector.”

End

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

About the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM)

The IHM is the professional organisation for managers throughout healthcare, including the NHS; Independent Providers; Healthcare Consultants and the Armed Forces.

The IHM’s focus is on improving patient/user care wherever and whenever healthcare is needed. The route to achieving this is through the promotion of excellence in healthcare management.

The IHM achieves this by:

• Publishing standards of management practice
• Promoting the IHM Code (covering behavioural and ethical aspects of management practice)
• Establishing a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) framework
• Promoting CPD and moving towards implementing a CPD validation mechanism
• Holding CPD events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Establishing a coaches database to support members when they choose an executive coach

The IHM has access to the highest offices of the NHS. Many of the senior players in the NHS are members of the IHM. More importantly, by promoting CPD, the IHM influences the management practice of thousands of managers.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Phil Slinger, IHM, 00 44 (0)20 7620 1030; P.Slinger@ihm.org.uk

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

Amnis, the quality, innovation and productivity organisation, along with the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM), has completed the fourth of an initial programme of five masterclasses aimed at helping healthcare organisations to transform the way they work, introduce Lean and think strategically. The latest masterclass was run at City Hospital in Birmingham and focused on how to embed Lean into healthcare organisations.

With over 75 per cent of Lean programmes failing to deliver the results they were expected to achieve, the Amnis/IHM masterclass focused on what the 25 per cent of healthcare organisations that are successful with Lean are doing.

Mark Eaton, managing director of Amnis and the author of the book ‘Lean for practitioners’, explained: “Leadership is one of the four key areas that determine whether or not Lean programmes will be successful.”

Eaton added that the masterclass covered the eight questions that leaders of Lean programmes need to ask themselves if they want to be successful:

• Do their leaders have a desire to improve?
• Do they understand Lean and what is involved?
• How will they structure their Lean programme?
• Do they have the discipline to ensure the process is adhered to?
• How will they show visible sponsorship of the Lean programme?
• How will they link their Lean activities to the organisational strategy?
• How will they engage their team and their partners in Lean?
• How will they recognise success and Lean behaviours?

The masterclass provided the answers to these questions and many more besides.

According to Julie Keith, from Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust, the masterclass “provoked a lot of thought and encouraged me to take further action,” while Suzanne Denley, from Central Manchester Hospitals NHS FT, commented: “This masterclass delivered more than was in the promotional literature and had a very knowledgeable workshop leader who engaged everyone.”

The next Amnis/ IHM masterclass will be on ‘Thinking Strategically’ and will also be run in Birmingham – this time on the 26^th February. This masterclass will reveal the secrets of how healthcare professionals can be successful by applying core strategic tools.

The event will focus on providing participants with an understanding of the core strategic tools that can help them shape their department and organisation. Moreover, according to Amnis’ Mark Eaton, the masterclass will enable participants to tackle real life strategic issues in ‘real time’ using the tools provided and the expertise of their fellow participants.

Eaton said: “We, at Amnis, are delighted by the feedback we’ve received from the participants to earlier masterclasses, which have focused on topics such as Sustaining Lean and Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement.

“This workshop offers a different and more strategic perspective on healthcare transformation,” he continued. “We hope that it will appeal to both participants in earlier masterclasses and a whole new group of healthcare professionals.”

For further details contact Ruth Bodman (ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com) or visit http://www.ihm.org.uk/events/view/527.

END

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

The difficult financial challenges facing the health service over the next few years, as it restructures its service models to release cash, are likely to be difficult to overcome for those organisations that take a tactical approach to improving performance, warns the quality, innovation and productivity organisation, Amnis.

According to Amnis’ Mark Eaton, any health sector organisation taking a tactical approach to implementing changes by focusing on isolated processes or pathways and not linking the front-line improvements to an overall transformation strategy is at risk of failing to bring about the financial benefits that are going to be needed.

“Significant and strategic change requires a strategic approach,” said Eaton, “and that starts by getting under the skin of the real objectives that need to be delivered, putting real numbers to the improvements that need to be generated and then identifying the key areas that will need to be transformed to deliver the required improvements.

“In addition, the future for the NHS can only be delivered through organisations working together to tackle the big ticket issues in a collaborative approach,” he counselled.

“This often means making a change to the way that senior teams work. It also involves the need to promote team working rather than the tribal warfare that can exist both within some organisations and across whole health economies.

“Moreover, it relies on impartial decisions being made about tough issues and recognising that, while everyone needs to win, they may not win every time.

“One thing that’s for certain is that organisations don’t need any more isolated ‘Rapid Improvement Events’ that aren’t linked to strategic goals and don’t help health economies to deliver their collective targets,” he stressed.

Amnis’s healthcare specialists offer a range of services intended to help organisations, especially those in the healthcare sector, to implement Lean successfully. For further details, contact Amnis’ client services director, Ruth Bodman, at ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com or visit http://www.amnis.uk.com

End

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

Organisations with toxic cultures are going to find it difficult to change their performance because anything they try will be resisted and undermined by the inertia within their organisation, according to the quality, innovation and productivity organisation, Amnis.

From its many years of experience of working with a wide range of organisations, Amnis believes that toxic cultures – which can be identified as having a general lack of respect for people, a strong people hierarchy, discord in the senior team and disengaged managers – are significantly affecting performance in some healthcare organisations.

Amnis’ work in the healthcare sector has shown that the key to long-term change is to tackle the barriers that toxic cultures can create by:

1. Ensuring that the words that your top team use are aligned with how they behave
2. Tackling any ‘tribal’ thinking and promoting team working
3. Adopting an effective structure for implementing change that engages front-line teams
4. Celebrating every success but accepting the occasional failure

Amnis’ Mark Eaton explained: “It is as important to tackle an underlying toxic culture as it is to have a well thought out transformation strategy – and far more important than getting on with tactical improvement programmes using Lean Rapid Improvement Events – if you want to instigate real and lasting change.”

Characteristically, organisations with toxic cultures will struggle to change behaviours and improve performance. Moreover they will find that any investment they make in Lean or other transformation programmes will not lead to long-term improved performance, warned Eaton.

He added: “Toxic cultures also facilitate decreased patient safety and foster other risks to the organisation. Consequently, it’s not just financial performance that will suffer as a result of an organisation experiencing a toxic culture.”

In association with the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM), Amnis is running a series of masterclasses for healthcare professionals. Toxic cultures – and how to overcome them by instituting a supportive culture – featured in the recent masterclass on ‘Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement’.

According to Amnis’ Mark Eaton, who is also the author of the book ‘Lean for practitioners’: “Basing improvement initiatives on the concepts of ‘Lean’ and ‘Lean Sigma’ – basically, doing more with less – is a sound principle but, for this to succeed, you need to change people’s working culture and behaviours as well as processes.”

The next masterclass in the Amnis/IHM series is on ‘Thinking Strategically’, and is being held in Birmingham on 26^th February 2010.

End

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com

Mark Eaton, managing director of Amnis, the quality, innovation and productivity organisation, has been named as one of the judges of the prestigious Midlands Business Awards for 2010. This will be the third year in a row that Mark has been a judge.

The 2010 Awards take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole at the NEC, Birmingham on the evening of 29^th January (www.midlandsbusinessawards.com) to salute the work and achievements of a wide range of flourishing small businesses as well as universities from the Midlands.

Eaton – a chartered engineer and a previous winner of the Viscount Nuffield Medal for his contribution to the UK manufacturing sector – is a Fellow of the RSA, IET and IOM. Although mostly working with the health sector over the last four years, Mark was selected as a judge because of his extensive experience of running blue chip organisations and major publicly funded transformation programmes.

Currently a director of Amnis, a leading organisation focused on helping healthcare organisations to acquire the skills to implement and sustain improvement, Eaton is the author of ‘Lean for Practitioners’ and ‘Sustaining Lean Healthcare Programmes’ as well as over 50 articles and books on topics related to organisational development, Lean and change.

Eaton commented: “Although much of my work with Amnis involves helping large organisations, I believe that it is vital to encourage – and reward – the achievements of the small business sector in this country. This sector forms the bedrock of our economy and makes an invaluable contribution to our nation’s bank of knowledge and skills and, ultimately, our national wealth.

“Consequently, I’m delighted to be involved with the Midlands Business Awards,” he added, “and I’m looking forward to a splendid evening at the Awards dinner on 29^th January.”

End

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com