(104am) Driving Operational Discipline Through Quality Written Procedures

Driving Operational Discipline through Quality Written Procedures

In DuPont, the term “Operating Discipline” is used to describe the obligation of every employee - everyone doing every job right, every time. As such, Operating Discipline (OD) leads to Operating Excellence.

The most important step in the “8 Step Operational Discipline Implementation Methodology” is step number four – ‘Focus on the It.’  “It” is the task.  How this task is to be performed should be described in written procedures, safety, operating or maintenance procedures.  ‘Focus on the It’ is the recognition that without an intense, management directed and supported effort to produce and maintain high quality procedures, improvement in the organization’s OD culture will not be realized.

 8 Step OD Implementation Methodology

  Step 1:  Be convinced improved OD is needed
  Step 2:  Assess the current state
  Step 3:  Develop a comprehensive roll-out plan
  Step 4:  Focus on the “It”
  Step 5:  Establish priorities
  Step 6:  Strengthen discipline processes
  Step 7:  Implement
  Step 8:  Audit, audit, audit

Written procedures serve many functions including enabling consistent operations and behaviors and they serve as a vehicle for codifying technology, best practices and experience on how to “do the job right.”  All procedures must be accurate.  If not, efforts to increase compliance with them will be thwarted.  Operational Discipline is based on a foundation of comprehensive, accurate and most importantly, understandable procedures.  All efforts to improve an organization’s Operational Discipline must contain a commitment to ensure the quality of these procedures.

This presentation is intended to help safety professionals and leaders improve their own organization’s Operating Discipline through an intense focus on quality procedures.  The session will include DuPont Best Practices in the development, review, control and compliance with safety, operations and maintenance procedures.  Example procedures and details of appropriate procedures managing systems, including employee involvement techniques, will be shared.