Operations Improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and BPM
Update as of April 2026 - After five decades of supporting manufacturing industries through consulting, teaching, writing, and leading, I am pleased to announce that I have fully retired. To all the friends, professional colleagues, students and readership, I challenge you to continue to learn, improve, and get results. I will leave Back2Basics' website intact through 2026. Maybe you will find some nuggets that are useful. Even though I am retired, give me a call if you would like to discuss ideas associated with lean, process improvement, and manufacturing strategy. Any ideas or advice I can share with you will be my contribution to the manufacturing industry!
Back2Basics, LLC is an operations improvement and Lean consulting company. Using depth of experience based on practical knowledge gained in operations management, executive positions, study missions, university-level teaching (instructor and course developer for Villanova University Lean Six Sigma courses), and varied assignments as a professional consultant and business executive, Jeff Sipes is a respected provider of Lean, plant transformation, and manufacturing strategy services to help manufacturing clients achieve sustainable results. Solutions are crafted from a combination of lean, six sigma, and BPM approaches. Jeff has been a monthly columnist for The Fabricator magazine and a regular contributor/presenter at Fabtech's annual conference and trade show.
Back2Basics' Consulting and Client Service Philosophy
The Back2Basics consulting philosophy is formed on the principle of helping clients help themselves. Jeff Sipes teaches, coaches, demonstrates, and “rolls up his sleeves and digs in” to develop capabilities in clients’ personnel – thus leaving the ability for on-going improvement long after the consulting resource is gone. If you are looking for a consulting resource to help your company help itself, give Jeff and Back2Basics a call!
Why Use Back2Basics, LLC?
The answer is simple. This lean consulting company is a great fit for small- to medium-sized manufacturers. I am a highly skilled, economical alternative to larger consulting firms and am a rapid delivery, results-focused alternative to doing it on your own. Consider Back2Basics a specialist in the application of Lean, Six Sigma, and Business Process Management on the shop floor, in the administrative areas, and throughout the extended supply chain of your manufacturing organization.
Don’t take my word for it.
Here’s a sample of one client testimonial:
“Jeff Sipes has taken us on an extraordinary lean journey over the past 18 months. He is viewed by our leaders and employees as a partner and colleague whose wisdom is valued and quickly integrated. His analysis of our aftermarket parts business doubled our business revenue while simultaneously dramatically improving customer satisfaction. Jeff's work on our internal processes (assembly, paint, and shipping) contributed to major improvements in performance. Simultaneously he led our managers and employees through a lean thinking curriculum that has influenced how we think and operate as a business. User friendly, humble, and open, he inspires respect and adoption from employees. Jeff is my partner in our business journey for as long as I am in my job.”
Steve Speakes
CEO
IRTC - San Antonio