MHD SUPPLY CHAIN
STAYING TRULY INNOVATIVE Vative’s Founder Steven Farrugia and CEO Theo Pappas discuss the philosophy of Vative, where it’s been, where it’s going, and the recent acquisition that is helping it deliver real results for the supply chain now – and in the future.
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ative, the Australian-based continuous-improvement training and consultancy, has been transforming businesses since 2006. Back then, the company’s Founder, Steven Farrugia, recognised a gap in the market for a consultancy that would guarantee results for clients without upfront fees. “We always were and remain confident in the results we can deliver, our business focuses on delivering a return on investment,” Steven says. “We help organisations establish a culture of Continuous Improvement to deliver increased productivity, profitability, and growth” Steven says the first company he worked with experienced efficiency improvements in excess of 500 per cent. Vative took off from there. The holistic deployment model is emblematic of Vative’s whole approach: there’s a proven methodology in how they deliver business transformation for clients. Vative’s offering encompasses a 5-phase continuous improvement strategic deployment model, guaranteed to deliver ROI when followed. Business transformation, through a holistic implementation of ‘lean’ business principles is the approach they take with a vision to continually expanding the breadth and reach of its services across Australia and eventually internationally. While traditional applications of lean methodologies originated in the manufacturing industry, the expansion into the entire supply chain sector has been an inevitable evolution. Its offering and business ethic are anchored in the “founding concept” of ‘Kaizen’. “Kaizen is a Japanese mindset, concept, and practice that emphasises continuous improvement and striving for perfection – without expecting 64 | MHD JULY 2023
Vative Founder Steven Farrugia (L) with CEO Theo Pappas. to ever reach perfection itself,” Steven notes. In 2010 Vative got a big boost, Steven says, when it recruited its now-CEO Theo Pappas. “Theo was clearly on the same page in terms of mindset and work ethic, and he was also an innovative and outsidethe-box thinker,” he says. “That’s what Vative has always valued, and Theo has been instrumental in driving our growth and growing our team with people who share our vision and values.” “When Steve called me and asked whether I’d consider coming on board I had other offers, but there was something unique about where Vative were going – and I really bought into that vision,” Theo says. “There was a true entrepreneurial spirit among the small group of founders at the time, and that energetically drew me right in; being truly innovative wasn’t only a tagline, it was embedded in their mindset” Theo pioneered Vative’s move to become a registered training organisation and carve out its niche in
the education and training space. “He was not afraid to take a big risk and back himself, which was representative of his character,” Steven says. “He saw an opportunity for Vative to become a registered training organisation and take control of its own training rather than relying on external partners. Although it wasn’t something he’d done before, he was willing to immerse himself in it, and we backed him – to great success.”
TACKLING SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES It will come as no surprise to readers that supply chain has faced – and continues to face – significant challenges in today’s economic and political climate. But Steven and Theo both reject the notion that businesses should trim their sails when entering economic headwinds. “The challenges are coming no matter what,” Steven says. “The question is, do you want to try and shield yourself from them as long as possible, or make yourself robust and resilient enough to withstand