Frequently asked questions

Yes. Northbridge was started for exactly that. Lean tools fail in a small shop when they are copied from a large plant instead of fitted to the actual product mix and batch sizes, which is why the work starts on your floor and not from a template.

It depends on the engagement. A floor assessment is two days on site with a written report. A lean rollout runs eight to twelve weeks. Inventory cleanup covers counts, locations and reorder points. Supervisor training is four half-day sessions.

The cost is set with the scope before any work begins. A fixed scope protects both sides: the amount and the deliverables are agreed up front. The first conversation about your shop is free.

No. The work happens on your shop floor with your team. Supervisors change a shop more than any written procedure, because they decide what gets done when the schedule slips, so they are in the room while the changes are made.

The clients are manufacturers across the Upper Midwest.

Erik Lindqvist runs the engagements himself. The firm works only with small manufacturers, so the same person who scopes the work is the one standing at your machines.