Once the recommendations and processes of the Project phase were implemented successfully, the S+O team moved on to the Sustaining Service phase. This involved working with the client on an ongoing basis to help them maintain the progress that had been achieved and to continually improve processes for optimal product flow.

“We knew that sorting and setting items in order was only part of the battle,” said Leslie McIntyre, Storage + Organization Program Director at JLL. “We needed to continue defining processes and systems by putting standards in place. If we don't have those, then the client’s challenges will resurface and things will go back to the way they were before we were involved.”

McIntyre and her colleagues are spearheading organizational consultation services and product liquidation sessions that provide product liquidation, put-away support, organizing flow and assisting as-needed with other Project initiatives. Meanwhile, S+O has gradually cascaded the procedures and standards throughout the building, growing the team as necessary to meet the client’s evolving needs and keep product flowing.

As a result of their work in the Project phase, the client was able to emplace all of their materials into the building appropriately.

“The client’s original analysis indicated there would not be enough space to hold all the product coming from the legacy buildings,” said McIntyre. “However, once we consolidated all of the teams and materials into the buildings in accordance with our recommendations, the client actually found that there was plenty of space to spare.”

In addition, the initiatives implemented by S+O led to an 80% increase in processing efficiency and a 30% reduction in the amount of storage space required.

S+O’s flexibility and deep knowledge of the client’s existing setup and anticipated needs has also enabled them to serve as a bridge between the client and other PDS services like Portfolio Strategy, Occupancy Planning, Relocation Project Management, and Warehouse Management.

“There are times when the client doesn’t know how to get to the next step of something they need,” explained McIntyre. “Although the labor piece may not be in our scope of work, we know exactly who to direct the client to.”

S+O is working to expand their services to additional buildings in the client’s portfolio, as well as bringing on additional clients.

In addition, the S+O team plans to introduce a third service, Workflow Design, which would leverage their specialized Lean expertise to design and integrate people workflows in environments to eliminate waste.