North St Partners

27/05/2026

🏭 WE MAKE IT HERE - and we do it well mind you!
North St Partners is incredibly proud to once again, be a supporter of the 2026 Hunter Manufacturing Awards

The 2026 theme says it all: "We Make It Here."

It’s a bold declaration of the capability, commitment, and world-class innovation happening right in our own backyard. Manufacturing across the Hunter, Central Coast, and surrounding regions isn’t just evolving—it’s actively shaping global supply chains and defining the future of Australian industry.

For our Managing Director, Andy Olrich, this connection runs deep. From his time working within and now out there on the ground helping some of the absolute best manufacturers in the country not only survive, but thrive.

We are excited to be part of this years' events, also, to see who will be the deserving winners!

🏆 Is Your Business Part of the Story?
The Hunter Manufacturing Awards are the ultimate platform to elevate your team's hard work, boost your visibility, and showcase your regional pride.

Go on, give it a go and register!

Head over to the official website at hma.org.au to check the categories—ranging from Digital Transformation to Manufacturing Leadership—and submit your entry.

Let’s show the rest of the country exactly what we are capable of.

Because when it comes to world-class quality...

We sure do ''Make It Here'!

22/05/2026

When Andy was fortunate to be introduced to what he calls 'Real Lean' a some years ago, one of the first places he was pointed to for ongoing best practice learning was Gemba Academy and Ron Pereira. To now be a guest on this podcast is definitely a personal and professional milestone.

You never know where these relationships and the 'just keep showing up' mentality can take you.

It's been a journey to date and many more learning miles to go hopefully. Thanks again and honoured to have the opportunity!
A great chat and I hope you enjoy GA633! Link in the comments 👇

13/05/2026

The Mid-Coast is forging ahead at the forefront of local skills and talent paired with world first innovation. It was certainly an inspiring and informative evening hosted by world renowned Mid Coast ship builders Steber International. Always great to catch up with Alan Steber and his wonderful team and they treated us to a behind the scenes tour of the many projects in flight at present including the world first diesel hybrid vessel in partnership with other innovation powerhouses from our region, Ampcontrol and University of Newcastle.
We had the honour to hear from local support advocates and the trailblazing keynote Lisa Blair OAM as she shared some of her amazing efforts to date including being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica plus holding another 8 World Records for extreme sailing and endurance. Lisa is shining a light on the impacts of plastics in our oceans also the impacts of the changing climate. Lisa and her team walked us through the next exciting chapter of her research and record breaking efforts, importantly the innovative circular methods and equipment that will go into the design of the vessel. Those who know Andy know he loves the odd Sticky note and to have his going on and sailing with Lisa through the Arctic Circle is pretty neat! More info on Lisa in the comments 👇
We really appreciate and enjoy working with our clients up here on the Mid Coast and fantastic to see ground breaking tech being developed right in our backyard. Well done once again Dennis Christensen and the team at Mid Coast Council for helping to build collaboration and support local manufacturing.

17/04/2026

⚡️ Process Improvement Navigating Rental Reform:
We can't change the rules, but we can change how we manage them. ⚡️

The NSW property landscape is in a state of rapid flux. Real Estate teams are facing a consistent deluge of Mandatory Regulation changes and they often arrive on short notice, requiring immediate action and seamless implementation.

Staff often become the 'face' of landlord and tenant frustration. Clients can be caught unaware, and Property Teams feel the brunt of communication gaps, even though their primary goal is protecting everyone involved and ensuring full legislative compliance.
Recently, Andy was proud to partner with the dedicated Property Management team at First National Real Estate Maitland

The core of our approach was moving beyond simply reacting to regulation, toward building sustainable adaptability.

Our collaborative approach focuses on:

🚨 Current State Vulnerability: Candidly identifying where process bottlenecks occur and and where communication was lagging.

🗺️ Mapping the Impact: Understanding the domino effect on both Property Managers and their clients.

🚀 Future State Roadmap & Value Prioritisation: Developing a structured, prioritised plan of actions and further problems to solve

💪 Process Strength and Adaptability: Streamlining internal systems to be resilient and agile. We didn't just address "the rules"; we also addressed the change and delivery of the message.

🫶 Taking Care of Team Health: By designing clear, repeatable, and proactive communication workflows, we reduce the ambiguity and stress for the staff who are on the receiving end of client feedback. It’s about building confidence, capability and empowering them to say, "The rule has changed; here is how we’ve already mapped your safe path forward."

By focusing on these key points, we shift the dynamic from reactive conflict to proactive, value-driven partnerships

📈 The Results and Next Steps- As you can see, alignment and engagement from the First National team were first class. Key actions are already underway to ensure they can serve their clients—and support their own staff—better than anyone else can!

If your business is grappling with regulatory changes and short-notice updates, you are likely feeling the same pressure points on your customer service frontline

The rules are constant, but your processes don't have to be vulnerable.

If you are ready to map a more adaptable future, let’s have a conversation and discuss how seeing the true process picture and Strategic clarity can empower your team and safeguard your customer experience.☕️

09/04/2026

Great working with you all! Thank you and looking forward to the next steps

Last week our Property Management team worked with Andy from North St Partners to workshop and plan our approach in keeping landlords up to date on the next tranche of rental reforms in NSW.

Thank you for your valuable insights Andy!

06/04/2026

Are you ready to start solving real problems today and take your operational excellence to the next level? 🚀

Boost Your Team’s Capability and ROI with the North St Partners Process Improvement Leader Program™

At North St Partners, we bridge the gap between classroom theory and operational reality. Our Process Improvement Leader Program™ is designed to transform your most important asset—your people—into high-impact problem solvers, no matter the process or industry!

🛠️ Two Specialised Tracks for Maximum Relevance:
To ensure the training brings benefits as soon as possible, we offer two tailored learning paths:

🏭 Manufacturing Track: For those involved in the transformation and/or assembling of materials and physical products.

🤝 Offices & Services Track: For teams focused on internal functions and processes, and community facing services.

📈 Proven ROI & Capability Uplift
This isn't just another workshop; it's a two-phase engine for growth:

👨‍🎓 Phase 1: The IDS-Problem Solving™ Workshop – Utilising simulation-based learning to master practical Lean and related methods like SIPOC, Process Mapping, Fishbone Diagrams, and best practice Team led A3 project delivery.

📈 Phase 2: Guided Project Delivery – Participants are supported to tackle real-world workplace problems, delivering a tangible return on investment while earning professional certification meeting the requirements of ISO 13053- Quantitative Methods in Process Improvement

🙋‍♂️ Meet Your Coach: Andy Olrich - Managing Director, North St Partners
The Program is directly supported by internationally recognised improvement Leader and Lean Solutions Podcast co-host, Andy Olrich.
With over 25 years of practical improvement delivery and experience, Andy brings an energetic, people-focused approach to empower your teams and deliver sustainable outcomes.

More than ever it is key to support your Teams to stop managing problems and start solving them - together 🙏

For more information, please use the link in the comments to download the brochure or our website to chat more 👇

🔗 Visit NorthStPartners.com.au to unleash your team's potential!

28/03/2026

"I wish we had this at school back in my day...💭" That's what our MD Andy and pretty much everyone says when they see this program in action for the first time...

The Big Thinking Box has made its way to Shoal Bay Public School… and the result is something truly special

We are so grateful that John Purcell and the Team at Career Links gave North St Partners the honour to sponsor the Primary Schools Award at the 2025 Young Business Mind Awards and bring the joy of 'Brave Thinking' to the Hunter!

A huge congratulations again to Layla, whose project Eco Ninja stood out for its creativity, purpose, and real-world thinking. That spark? It’s exactly what this experience is built to grow.

It was such a joy to be invited to present Layla and her amazing teacher Rechell Parker with their award and bring this moment full circle in front of the entire school. That kind of recognition sticks with kids and gives them real confidence, now and into the future.

Now… this is where it gets really fun 🙌

A few weeks ago, 'William the Brave Knight' officially arrived at Shoal Bay, and students were stepping into the experience, thinking, collaborating, and leading through:

💗 Courage
❓ Curiosity &
🧠 Critical Thinking

The feedback was incredible and aligned with the current NSW syllabus, this program is going from strength to strength. It’s another fun and engaging way of bringing STEM to life in a way that builds confident thinkers, not just having 'correct' answers.

No longer seen as 'different or weird', this way of thinking is truly seen as key in helping us solve complex challenges now and in the future. In our opinion, this is the one key advantage we are born with compared to the bots and it is something we must nurture, not seek to contain and fit the current mould.

To everyone who helped make this happen, thank you. You’re not just supporting a program… you’re shaping future leaders 🤝

And we’re just getting started

Don't worry adults, The Big Thinking Box is being used right now to support Leadership and Team building days through growing collaboration and connection, no matter the industry 🏭 🏣 🏛️ 🚀

If you’ve ever wondered what this looks like in a real classroom, here it is. Special thanks to Rechell and her team who were able to grab some footage of the action and permission to have us be able to share with you all. Watch the video to see what happens when students are given the space to think bravely 👇

Huge thanks to the amazing creators and our friends Allison DeVries Brian DeVries, LSSBB, MBA for allowing us to bring Big Thinking to the APAC Region

Want to know how you can give the gift of Leadership and support the next group of 'Brave Thinkers'? We'd love to hear from you 🫵

https://lnkd.in/gCFgut9B
https://lnkd.in/g_YvZkuR

16/03/2026

Reflections on Resilience: From North St. to Modern Operations 🪞

There is a quiet power in the phrase my Nan used to live by: "You can only cut your loin from the cloth you have."
She was a woman who understood the weight of that sentiment more than most. Having lost the love of her life in WWII, she picked herself up, dusted off and navigated a world of scarcity with a calm, deliberate focus but always from a place of care. Among the letters and mementos she passed down to me—including this original motor spirit (petrol/gas) ration ticket 👇 —is a legacy of resourcefulness that stays with me every day.
It’s no coincidence that my company, North St Partners, bears the name of the street where she lived. Her approach to life is the DNA of how I navigate the world and in particular business improvement today.

Looking Inward to Move Forward 👉 👁️‍🗨️ 👈
In times of volatility, the instinct is often to look outward for excuses or upward for miracles. But my grandmother taught me that the "bigger picture" starts with what is right in front of you and it may not always be easy to sit and look at.
She never told me what to do; she asked the right questions until I saw the next steps myself and owned it. This is exactly where Part 2 'Partners' comes from in the name.

So now what? 💁‍♀️

Acknowledge your 'Cloth' 👘
What are your current constraints, and are you actually seeing them clearly?

Master the Cut ✂️
How can you sustainably optimise the resources you already possess before seeking more?

Build for the Unknown ❓
How do we create systems that provide resilience when the "rationing" of the future inevitably shifts and sometimes is out of your locus of control?

The Reflecting Questions for Your Organisation 🫵
When we stop fighting the reality of our current "cloth" and start mastering the way we use it, the results are transformative. I invite you to consider these three levers-

Efficiency 📈
What would a 10% efficiency gain mean for your company’s ability to reinvest in its people? Can you truly see and optimise your processes to deliver the same or more value with less inputs - raw materials, time, fuels, fleet etc

Capital 🏭
What would removing 20% of your working capital overheads and exposure do for your peace of mind and bottom line?

Greater Autonomy 🤗
What would having greater control over your supply chain partnerships and strategies mean for your long-term stability?

These are some examples of what our clients are taking control over right now and finding some stability and success in the chaos

Certainly a lot of moving parts to face at present and lets be real - is it ever really going to be so different? We cannot solve them all for sure but please "don't let perfect get in the way of better..."

If you would like to chat more please reach out

https://northstpartners.com.au/
Take care
Andy

10/03/2026

"You can't coach results, you can only coach culture"...

🐾 Breaking New Ground: Shingo Meets Social Impact

Andy was incredibly proud to have recently completed the Shingo Institute Discover Excellence training, hosted by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT in Sydney. Expertly delivered and supported by Indi Ray Kevan Latty and Chris Butterworth.

This wasn’t just another professional development workshop; it was a global first 🌏

This event marked the world's first Shingo workshop held at a charity, and the Guide Dogs are certainly proving that the pursuit of operational excellence isn't just for manufacturing or big tech—it’s for any organisation dedicated to delivering maximum value to those they serve .
Seeing the Shingo Model applied in an environment where the "output" is life-changing independence for the vision-impaired was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do 🫶

What is the Shingo Model?
For those unfamiliar, the Shingo Prize is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for Manufacturing," but its guiding principles are universal. It focuses on shifting from "tools-based" improvement to culture-based excellence driven by deeply held principles. Seeking out and supporting the key behaviours needed to deliver the results required.

A huge thank you to the team at Guide Dogs Australia for opening their doors and to the fellow participants for the shared insights. We're excited to bring these reflections and skills back to the work we do and continue the journey toward excellence and a better future.

27/02/2026

Visualising Support and Success: How Lean is helping to Transform NSW Regional Council Operations 🚀

Regional Councils in particular face a unique set of challenges: small, dedicated teams managing large geographic areas and a diverse range of critical services for their customers. When your talent is your most precious resource, how do you also ensure they are supported, aligned, and not overwhelmed? 😓

Andy Olrich was out again in with a local Shire Council seeing the progress with their implementation of Lean. In particular, this highlighted tool -

What is Kamishibai? - It is a simple visual control tool that uses double-sided "storytelling" cards (typically green and red) to manage key routine tasks and audits. Its purpose is to provide an instant, at-a-glance status of operations, making abnormalities or roadblocks visible so that leadership can provide immediate support where it's needed most.

Utilising Kamishibai boards as a central "Source of Truth" 🚥
While systems integration is ongoing and data lives in multiple back-end systems (digital, paper and the like), coupled with meaningful measures, the Kamishibai board brings activity to life in a single, physical location.

Why is it working and what are some of the benefits? 🤷‍♀️

Improved Planning and Workload Transparency👁️‍🗨️
It provides a clear simple visual of required activity levels, effort and cadence required for tasks.

Improved Team Visibility, Alignment and Ex*****on 🙏
Bringing your Strategy to life, it facilitates team interactions that actually mean something. Teams can quickly see where they are, what’s lagging, and where they may need to pivot, accelerate or in some cases - slow down and work on other 'Red's' that may need a hand.

Visible Leadership Support - Trust AND Verify 👨‍👧‍👧
Instead of always having to chase people up, always having to have a meeting and digging through multiple reports and systems, leaders can walk past the board, see the "red" or "green" status, and immediately ask:
"Is this REALLY what is happening in your teams?"
"How can I support you?" also importantly,
"I can see you are getting it done- great job!" ensuring we celebrate the wins too

Customer-Centric Delivery and Care 🫶
By 'learning to see' the pains, gains and opportunities better at a glance, the ongoing removal of bottlenecks and streamlining of internal processes becomes just the way we work, not an 'event'.

This all helps ensure that the — the local community, receive critical services reliably and efficiently plus their most valuable asset - their people- are better seen, heard and supported for ongoing success.

Another real example of how Lean is helping industries in all parts of the world not only survive but thrive 📈

If you are consumed by the complex and want to explore how we can help you more simply step forward, we'd love to speak with you 🤝

https://lnkd.in/gKqcG443

(Second image for concept design only)