Creato Performance Solutions

What Creato Performance Solutions does

Creato Performance Solutions is a privately held, founder-led healthcare performance improvement firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Del Mar, California. The company combines consulting services, accredited online and classroom training in Lean and Six Sigma, and a proprietary cloud-based project portfolio management platform called COMPASS. Its primary customer base is healthcare systems and providers, with marquee clients including Kaiser Permanente, Pfizer, Grady Health, Sharp Healthcare, Holy Family Memorial, Fraser Health, and Salinas Valley Memorial, supplemented by adjacent engagements in defense (Leonardo DRS), government insurance (Citizens Florida), and life sciences (Lilly).

The core technology stack centers on the COMPASS Quality Management System, which links balanced scorecards to improvement projects and consolidates idea management, CAPA management, FMEA, statistical analysis tools (control charts, histograms, Pareto), and enterprise reporting in one platform. A mobile companion app (iOS/Android) extends access, and the offering is accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification. Creato also maintains a proprietary empirical Lean/Six Sigma Candidate Assessment Program using behavioral benchmarks, and a Leadership Development Program grounded in emotional intelligence frameworks.

Revenue derives from a mix of subscription/recurring streams (COMPASS enterprise licensing and per-student Learning Lab subscriptions at $1,495 and $1,850 respectively), on-site consulting and professional services engagements, and channel/reseller distribution agreements with ASQ (since 2005), ACHE (20+ years on faculty), Massachusetts and California associations of healthcare quality, and EZSigma Group (exclusive Canadian distribution since June 2020). Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales via competitive RFPs, channel partners, event-driven content marketing, and limited product-led growth via free trials and demos. Creato self-reports a 7:1 average return on investment across 150 projects at 10 organizations and has supported three Malcolm Baldrige Award winners. The firm remains independently owned by founder Ian R. Lazarus with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Creato Performance Solutions

Legal name

Creato Performance Solutions

Website

https://creato.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Creato Performance Solutions is a private, founder-led firm delivering Lean and Six Sigma consulting, accredited online training, and the cloud-based COMPASS quality management system, primarily to healthcare systems and providers across North America and selectively in defense, insurance, and life sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Del Mar

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Training Programs and Certification: Fee-for-service training programs in Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other improvement methodologies. Programs offered through online Learning Labs, classroom sessions, and blended formats. Students earn diplomas and affidavits upon completion.
2. COMPASS Quality Management System Licensing: SaaS-based project portfolio management system licensed to organizations for managing improvement projects. Most customers recover deployment costs from their first project.
3. Consulting and Professional Services: On-site consulting engagements where Creato staff conduct improvement projects while simultaneously training client personnel. Includes coaching, mentoring, and certification support.
4. Channel Partner Distribution: Distribution partnerships with ASQ, ACHE, and regional associations who resell Creato training programs to their members, typically at negotiated rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Creato Performance Solutions delivers integrated performance improvement services combining consulting engagements, Lean and Six Sigma training (online, classroom, and blended formats), and the proprietary COMPASS Quality Management System (cloud-based project portfolio management software with mobile companion app). Offerings target enterprise and mid-market organizations in healthcare, pharmaceutical, defense, insurance, and financial services, with documented 7:1 ROI across 150 completed projects.

Product overview

Creato Performance Solutions offers a comprehensive performance improvement portfolio consisting primarily of the COMPASS Quality Management System (a cloud-based project portfolio management platform) combined with complementary training products (Lean Sigma Learning Lab and Six Sigma Learning Lab), leadership development services, and candidate assessment programs. The core COMPASS platform integrates idea management, project tools, just-in-time improvement training, and enterprise reporting. Training products are available as online Learning Labs, classroom sessions, or blended formats. The company also offers proprietary candidate assessment using emotional intelligence benchmarking, and the Tool-of-the-Month Club provides ongoing educational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COMPASS: Quality Management System - a project portfolio management platform providing idea management, project tools, just-in-time improvement training and enterprise reporting for performance improvement.
• Lean Sigma Learning Lab
• Six Sigma Learning Lab
• COMPASS Companion

Products and services

• COMPASS Quality Management System A cloud-based project portfolio management (PPM) platform that provides infrastructure for Performance Improvement, Lean, and Six Sigma deployments. Links balanced scorecards to PI projects and provides tools, templates, and tutorials in a single package for strategic alignment, progress tracking, CAPA management, FMEA, statistical analysis, and enterprise reporting. Targeted at enterprise and mid-market organizations pursuing operational excellence.
• Lean Sigma Learning Lab Web-based online training focused on applying Lean methodology with real-world case studies, tools, templates, and integrated statistical decision support. Accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification. Priced at $1,495 per student for full access. Targeted at individual professionals and enterprise teams pursuing Lean certification.
• Six Sigma Learning Lab Comprehensive online training covering Six Sigma methodology with real-world scenarios, DMAIC process, embedded analytical tools, and templates for process improvement projects. Priced at $1,850 per student. Accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification. Targeted at individual professionals and enterprise teams pursuing Six Sigma certification.
• COMPASS Companion Mobile App Mobile companion application complementing the COMPASS Quality Management System, available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). Provides on-the-go access to project management and improvement tracking features for COMPASS users.
• Leadership Development Program Develops emotionally intelligent leadership based on competencies of Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management. Includes tools for building trust, inspiring teams, and improving personal leadership effectiveness, with optional supportive coaching. Annual subscription pricing. Targeted at senior leaders, particularly in healthcare.
• Lean and Six Sigma Candidate Assessment and Support Program Proprietary empirically-driven assessment program identifying the best candidates for Lean or Six Sigma training using Personal Behavior Profile assessments compared against proprietary behavioral benchmarks, with analysis conducted by Certified Professional Behavioral Analysts. Targeted at organizations seeking to optimize training investment outcomes.
• Classroom Training On-site classroom training in Lean, Six Sigma, Rapid Action Planning, and other contemporary performance improvement methods, delivered by Creato staff with 20+ years of experience. Also offers blended learning combining classroom sessions with online Learning Lab products. Targeted at enterprise teams seeking instructor-led instruction.
• Rapid Action Planning A rapid problem-solving method providing organized and effective response to departmental or cross-functional performance problems, based on the GE 'Work-Out' method. Targeted at teams needing structured rapid-cycle process improvement.
• Tool-of-the-Month Club Monthly educational program covering quality improvement tools including CTQ Tree, Histogram, IMR Chart, Project Selection, Fishbone, and 5-Why's Analysis, designed to last 45 minutes or less per session with free templates and certificates. Targeted at continuous improvement practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7:1 return on investment across 150 projects over 10 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• EZSigma GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 June 2020EZSigma Group, based in Toronto, has exclusive distribution rights to the COMPASS Quality Management System throughout Canada. Companies cooperating to establish market for COMPASS across Canada. COMPASS already in use within hospital systems in British Columbia province.
• Massachusetts Association of Healthcare QualitysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2015Partnership to create broader distribution channel for Creato's products including Lean for Healthcare online training. Creato offers programs at up to 25% discount to members.
• California Association of Healthcare QualitysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 August 2014Partnership to broaden distribution for Creato's Lean for Healthcare online training program to CAHQ members.
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2011ACHE awarded grant to Creato to develop 2-day training program on emotional intelligence for senior healthcare leaders. Creato has been on ACHE faculty for over 20 years. Conducting programs for ACHE members addressing Lean and emotional intelligence.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASQ distributes Creato's Lean online training program to members since 2005. Creato programs offered through ASQ website. ASQ offers Creato educational programs to individual members. Licensee found in Germany through ASQ.
• University of MichigansecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement with University of Michigan's graduate program in Health Services Management & Policy to supply online training in Lean to first and second year students. Pilot program completed successfully with ten students.
• EMS Consulting GroupsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides customized coaching, consulting, facilitation, and training to enable Lean transformation. Clients include industrial, consumer products, defense/aerospace, healthcare, insurance, biotech, and medical device sectors.
• International Training Consortium (ITCI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time strategic partner thought leader in organizational culture, leadership, remote work, equity diversity & inclusion, medical training, and Modern Workplace. Co-author of 'Ultimate Guide To Remote Work'.
• High Performance HealthcareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Australian healthcare market for quality improvement programs and services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gemba Consulting: Gemba Consulting is a Lean/Six Sigma operational excellence consultancy serving healthcare and industrial clients. It is a like-for-like competitor for Creato's consulting book of business and targets the same enterprise RFP opportunities.
• KaiNexus: KaiNexus offers a continuous improvement / idea management SaaS platform that overlaps directly with Creato's COMPASS QMS. It serves similar healthcare and manufacturing customers pursuing Lean and operational excellence programs.
• TBM Consulting Group: TBM Consulting Group is an operational excellence and Lean transformation consultancy serving manufacturing, healthcare, and supply chain. It competes for the same improvement engagements that Creato's consulting team delivers, with comparable methodology and similar enterprise healthcare logos.
• GoLeanSixSigma.com: GoLeanSixSigma.com provides online Lean and Six Sigma certification training that directly substitutes for Creato's Learning Labs. Same target learner, same use case, and a similar self-service plus enterprise delivery model.
• MoreSteam: MoreSteam is one of the most direct online Lean Six Sigma training and e-learning providers, including a Project Portfolio Management-style improvement engine (EngineRoom). It competes head-to-head with Creato's Lean Sigma Learning Lab and Six Sigma Learning Lab and targets the same enterprise L&D buyers.
• ProcessMAP: ProcessMAP is a cloud-based QMS and PPM platform used by regulated enterprises, including healthcare and life sciences. It competes with COMPASS for project portfolio management and improvement initiative infrastructure in the same customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• MasterControl: MasterControl is a leading enterprise QMS platform with a strong footprint in life sciences and healthcare. While broader and more heavily capitalized than COMPASS, it competes for the same quality and improvement initiative budget, particularly in pharma-adjacent accounts like Pfizer and Lilly.
• Planview (LeanKit): Planview's LeanKit product is a Kanban/Lean work management platform used to operationalize continuous improvement programs. It overlaps with COMPASS's improvement tracking and portfolio management capabilities at a much larger scale, with broader enterprise software reach.
• Minitab: Minitab is the dominant statistical process improvement software vendor, deeply embedded in Six Sigma training programs and adjacent to Creato's analytics-heavy offerings. It does not deliver consulting or training like Creato, but its tools are core to the same practitioner workflow.

Emerging players

• Qualityze: Qualityze is a cloud-native QMS vendor competing in healthcare, life sciences, and manufacturing, with PPM-adjacent capabilities. It is smaller and more recent than Creato, but addresses the same enterprise QMS/PPM buyer that COMPASS targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Cre8tvOutcomes
• Facebookfacebook.com/Creative-Healthcare-370009193068286
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creato-performance-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creato Performance Solutions