Overview

The Three Machines Assessment Playbook provides a structured approach to evaluating capital efficiency across your business. Complete this assessment before initiating any operational improvement initiative.

What You’ll Learn

By completing this assessment, you will:

1. Quantify your current state across all three machines
2. Benchmark performance against industry standards
3. Identify the highest-leverage improvement opportunities
4. Prioritize initiatives based on effort vs. impact

Assessment Structure

Phase 1: Data Collection (Days 1-3)

Gather the following inputs:

Category	Required Data	Source
Cash	AR aging, AP aging, inventory levels	ERP/Accounting
Profit	Gross margin by product/customer	P&L detail
Growth	Sales pipeline, win rates, CAC	CRM

Phase 2: Analysis (Days 4-7)

Apply the diagnostic frameworks:

• Cash Machine Scorecard - 12 metrics across working capital
• Profit Machine Waterfall - Margin leakage analysis
• Growth Machine Funnel - Conversion rate mapping

Phase 3: Synthesis (Days 8-10)

Consolidate findings into an action roadmap:

1. Quick wins (0-30 days)
2. Medium-term initiatives (30-90 days)
3. Strategic investments (90+ days)

Included Materials

This playbook comes with:

• Excel workbook with all calculation templates
• PDF guide with detailed instructions
• Benchmark data for comparison
• Executive summary template

Success Tips

Companies that see the best results:

• Assign a dedicated owner for the assessment
• Block time on calendars upfront
• Engage finance early in data collection
• Share findings transparently with leadership

Next Steps

After completing the assessment, consider these related playbooks:

• Working Capital Optimization
• Pricing Strategy Framework
• Sales Process Design