The Sweet Success Story
The Sweet Success Story by Kevin Sullivan
Inside the AMIS Journey
Inside the AMIS Journey is a collection of short stories told by our consultants, each giving you a glimpse into what the AMIS process looks like in practice. Rather than formal case studies, these are personal accounts — straight from the people guiding clients through their improvement journey. Each story highlights how our consultants work alongside businesses to uncover challenges, prioritise what matters most, and deliver real, measurable change.
In this edition, Kevin takes us behind the scenes of his work with a UK sweets manufacturer — showing how the AMIS process is helping them take their first big steps towards maintenance excellence.
The Story
“I was recently involved with a UK sweet manufacturer, taking them through the AMIS process at one of their main sites. Their score came out at 28% — which puts them firmly in the Reactive category. Not unexpected, but always a bit of a wake-up call for the leadership team.
On the fourth day, I pulled together a view of what their requirements would be. We provided a full package cost, but the senior team advised that only around 20% was available. Rather than park the whole thing, we cut our cloth accordingly and focused on the areas that would deliver the most immediate value:
Maintenance Excellence Strategy – giving them a clear roadmap and direction.
FRACAS system – tackling repetitive failures head-on.
FMECA – for their highest-criticality asset, supported by MCP training and verification. (This one’s still in progress, but the other two have already been completed.)
That flexibility — being able to prioritise and still make progress — really matters. Clients don’t always have the luxury of full budgets, so part of my role is helping them decide where limited investment can have the biggest impact on their improvement journey.
AMIS and Beyond
Beyond the AMIS scope, I also supported them in sourcing a maintenance planner – sharing a job description and guidance on the types of people that make effective planners/schedulers. They’ve since hired a young planner who, from what I hear, is already doing really well.
I’ve also submitted a proposal to help them improve their stores management (both inventory and physical stores), which could unlock even more efficiencies.
It’s still a journey in progress, but already the business has clearer direction, stronger foundations, and a step-change in how they’re tackling maintenance challenges.”
— Kevin Sullivan, MCP Managing Consultant
How MCP Makes It Happen
At MCP, we specialise in guiding organisations through the AMIS Journey — from assessment to delivery. Consultants like Kevin don’t just hand over a report; they help clients prioritise wisely, allocate budgets effectively, and focus on the changes that make the biggest difference. The result? Improvements that are sustainable, measurable, and tailored to the realities of each business.
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