About Us

Welcome to Colin Barr Associates

Since 2001 we have helped organisations like yours improve processes, achieve better results, delight customers & increase employee satisfaction. We have supported over 100 client organisations in the public, private and third sector.

We employ practical methods to help you achieve your goals and whilst we are not wedded to any particular methodology, Lean Six Sigma lies at the core of what we do.

Our Track Record

  • Our Continuous Improvement training ranges from introductory level to in-depth expert level. For example, we have trained over 200 people to Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Level and more than 750 to Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Level across a dozen countries.

  • We have established Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belts in many organisations.

  • Our training content, delivery and style has received nothing but plaudits since we started out and we are noted for simplifying the explanations of complex ideas. We have plenty of feedback data to share if required.

  • We are regular guest lecturers at the University of Heriot Watt, Edinburgh.
  • A big part of our work is to coach improvement teams and individuals working on improvement projects.

  • Either through coaching or direct application we have delivered (auditable) multi-million pound cost savings, and significant improvements in customer satisfaction.

We continue to be engaged by clients as long term partners in significant transformation and Operational Excellence programmes.

With our help our clients deliver fantastic results

We aim to be your best guide to help you deliver improvement and strive for excellence.

Our Associate Structure

Our business model is to team up with specially selected, loyal, and trusted Associates. These people are the best in the industry and work as experienced independent consultants in their own right. We only partner with people who have achieved real success and have actually “done it” in their own particular business environments. Our Associates have all held director level positions in blue chip organisations. More details are available on each Associate, please just ask.

Our Associates

Who we are

Our interest is in helping organisations improve processes to achieve better performance and customer satisfaction.

We employ a variety of techniques in order to achieve these objectives and whilst we are not ‘wedded’ to any particular methodology, Lean Six Sigma, and Performance Management are some of our core tools. We deliver training, coaching and project leadership in Lean Six Sigma.

We have provided these services to an extremely wide variety of clients since the business was formed in 2001. Our client list, which totals more than 100, includes Public Sector, Private Sector and Third Sector organisations.

Our contact details are here.

Training (Online and In Person):

  • Our training capability ranges from delivering Introductory Level to In-depth Level courses on Continuous Improvement. For example, we have trained over 200 people to Lean Six Sigma Black Belt level and more than 750 to Lean Six Sigma Green Belt level from a dozen different countries. A dedicated group of our trainees are now practicing Master Black Belts.
  • Our courses can be delivered Online or In Person and usually include Project Coaching sessions as part of the programme.
  • Our training content, delivery and style has received nothing but plaudits since the business was formed. We have stacks of feedback data to share if required.

Project Coaching & Delivery:

  • Learning the theory is essential however our coaching and mentoring of participants in applying the theory has helped them deliver multi-million pound cost savings, and significant improvements in customer satisfaction for their organisations.
  • We can deliver projects directly ourselves, or coach your people on how apply what they’ve learned to achieve significant goals.
  • We coach either one-to-one or in small groups.

Operational Excellence & Cultural Change:

  • The sustainability of improvement efforts is maximised when the organisation’s culture is right.
  • We have designed and deployed Operational Excellence processes and programmes to support cultural change within organisations.
  • We continue to be engaged by clients as partners in significant transformation efforts.

Rapid Improvement Facilitation:

  • We have led countless Rapid Improvement Workshops to deliver successful outcomes within concentrated timescales.
  • The content and scope of these workshops (sometimes called “Kaizen Blitz”) has been extraordinary and can address pretty much any aspect of your business.
  • We receive regular feedback where participants are surprised and delighted at the progress they have made in the space of a few days.