First Things First LLC provides supply chain assessment, solutions, and implementation for small and medium businesses. Clients see value delivered with Six Sigma, Lean, and SCOR best practices, customized to individual business practices and needs, and accelerated with MS Office, SQL, and enterprise systems. Our services can be categorized as part Process Re-engineering and part Business Analytics, with the mix of each customized to your needs.
We see your business through fresh eyes to acquire a solid understanding of the business or business division. After that assessment, we compare company practices to industry best practices to identify gaps. Then we present the client’s management with options to select and implement the highest-value solutions. These solutions may be process-based or they may be technology-based. While many large firms can implement a large Enterprise system like Oracle or SAP over the course of years, First Things First builds in accessible tools like SQL, Visual Basic, and the Microsoft Office suite to meet your needs today. If you already have those larger systems and just can’t seem to drag out the information you need, we have the experience to help with that too.
The Chief Consultant is Jason Torpy, MBA, CSCP, CPIM, SCOR-P, and an APICS Certified Instructor. Since graduating from West Point, he has built over 15 years of supply chain experience starting as a US Army logistics officer managing warehouse operations with the 1st Armored Division during the Iraq War. After leaving the military, he earned an MBA from The Ohio State University, and served as president of the Operations & Logistics Management Association and as a graduate consultant to local industry. As a Managing Consultant with IBM, he acquired the ability to deliver value in multi-billion-dollar global corporations. His approach has always been to meet the people in these corporations, to understand their role, and to craft a solution best-fit for them.
The name First Things First has an obvious business application, with strategic analysis, results-based leadership, and line-level task prioritization all being components of a successful business. It is too easy to be sidetracked by “firefighting” without empowered workers on track to achieve clear goals. First Things First also means prioritizing life and values in our business. We have a company commitment to animal protection, local arts, and veterans support, especially in the South Bend community. Pro bono work and charitable engagement in these areas are part of what we mean by First Things First.