Brilliantly Boring: The Secret Power of Process Improvement

Let’s face it - ‘boring’ gets a bad rap. But in business, boring is beautiful. It means fewer errors, less chaos, smoother customer journeys, and more time to focus on what really matters.

In this free, interactive workshop organised by Chesterfield Borough Council’s Innovation Support Project, we’ll show you how to harness the proven power of Lean and Six Sigma to make your processes so good, they’re boring - in the best possible way. It will highlight how these tools can empower people and change mindsets, and build a wider culture of challenging the norm.

Through thought-provoking activities, engaging content, and easy-to-use tools you can take away, we’ll explore:

• An introduction to the world of continuous improvement in the digital age

• The 8 deadly wastes (TIMWOODS) that silently drain time, money and quality

• Why customer obsession is at the heart of successful businesses - explained using Critical to Quality (CTQ) trees

• What the Six Sigma DMAIC cycle is and how it helps fix broken processes

• How to standardise processes without killing creativity - through a fun team-based activity

• Kano Analysis: a fast, visual way to prioritise what your customers actually want

• How to use an X/Y Matrix to decide what to improve first and why - using a real-life Starbucks example

Whether you're in the public, manufacturing, digital services or professional sectors, this session will get you thinking differently about your operations and offer practical ways to drive change with minimal fuss.

You’ll leave with a fresh perspective, tools you can further explore and apply within your own organisation, and quite possibly a new appreciation for the “boring stuff” that keeps great businesses and teams like yours running efficiently.

About the Presenter

Ian Hayhurst, Operations Manager at CQM Training & Consultancy, brings over two decades of experience in driving workplace improvement in both service and manufacturing environments. A qualified Lean Six Sigma professional and trainer with an engineering background and a deep understanding of both people and process, Ian is known for making improvement accessible, engaging, and directly relevant to real-world business challenges.

He has coached and mentored teams in industry to deliver £millions in cost savings through initiatives focused on downtime reduction, waste elimination, and process consistency. Ian’s training style is practical, interactive, and focused on unlocking “lightbulb” moments - helping delegates rethink the way they work, without overwhelming them with jargon.

Delivered by CQM Training & Consultancy, a local trusted improvement partner, this workshop is perfect for local businesses of all sizes who want to work smarter, not harder.

Further information

The location has accessible toilets and parking in close proximity.

We are keen to ensure you have the best possible experience. If you have any specific requirements, please kindly let us know by ticking the accessibility box when booking and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your needs.

Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a member of the team before booking, please either email cbc.eventbrite@chesterfield.gov.uk or call 01246 267703 and reference the event that you are interested in attending.

This event is open to Chesterfield based businesses. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis (based on one place per organisation). If you would like to attend, please book a place as soon as possible.

By booking, you give consent for Chesterfield Borough Council Innovation Support Programme to contact you regarding this event and to your details being stored within our records. Chesterfield Borough Council is a registered data controller and will process your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and other applicable legislation.

The Council will use your personal data to process this booking. You will receive communications from us that are necessary for the Council to manage this and provide support.

Privacy Notice

The Council seeks to comply fully with data protection laws and ensures all our contractors and suppliers also comply. For more information about how your personal data is used please see our Privacy Notice https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/privacy

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund