The Masterclass programme is based on the philosophies of profitable production, customer satisfaction, involving everyone and cascading the knowledge.

It is an individually tailored, hands-on approach conducted principally on the shop floor. 

Masterclass looks at a company's processes with two aims:  to eliminate waste and to maximise the potential of the available resources.

The programme aims for measurable improvements in Quality, Cost and Delivery.

Masterclass Engineers work directly with the company's own workforce to encourage them to learn-by-doing.  That way any improvements implemented are as a result of suggestions from the workers themselves.  This means that there's no feeling of new systems being imposed on the workforce from outside.

Typically, a Masterclass programme consists of five distinct phases.

Pre-diagnostic

The initial phase is a one-day visit from a Masterclass Engineer.  He or she is the specialist who'll work closely with the company Team to bring about the required improvements.
During the Pre-Diagnostic, introductions are made, information gathered, questions about the process answered and discussions carried out to determine the resources required to support the Masterclass activity.

Diagnostic

To realise true sustainable progress and improvements you need to have an effective benchmark, to know where you're starting from and to measure improvements against.
The purpose of the Diagnostic phase, then, is to establish the current situation in the Focus Area and to see where improvements can be made.

The Team will feed back to the Management Team at the end of each day to update on progress. This is an ideal opportunity for the Management Team to offer support and encouragement.

Check day

This phase monitors the progress since the Diagnostic phase, consolidates learning with the Team and plans for the 5-day Workshop.

Workshop

Having analysed the current situation, learnt new tools and techniques and planned improvements, the Masterclass Team works on trials and implementing improvements in the Focus Area, using the Plan - Do - Check - Act cycle.  As in the Diagnostic phase, the Team will feed back to the Management Team at the end of each day, and conduct a presentation on Friday afternoon, summarising the Team activities and roll-out plans.

Follow ups

Three Follow Up days are programmed in to check on the sustainability of the improvements made, deliver additional support if required and to help with further roll-out plans.  During the Follow Ups, the running of the activity is gradually transferred to the Masterclass Team.

At Follow Up 3, the Team, will give a closing presentation, summarising the whole activity and detailing the way forward.