If I could summarize my observations of the various operations that I’ve visited, the biggest issue I’ve witnessed is a lack of operational awareness. Let’s look at what it means and why you should focus your energy on achieving it.
What is Operational Awareness?
Operational Awareness could be defined as the perception of operational elements and events with respect to time or area, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status after some variable has changed, such as time, or some other variable, such as a predetermined event.
Simply put, it is having the knowledge of and the understanding of how your operation is truly functioning. If changes occur, you are aware and astute as to how those changes might effect production and the team.
Why should you care?
Operational awareness is critical to the success and efficiency of any operation. Not only does it provide insight into the inner workings but it also promotes a safe and secure work environment. Understanding how the operation is performing and where areas can be improved production at its peak. The team can focus on the job at hand with less worry.
Do you have it?
We can often deceive ourselves into thinking we know what is really going on around us. Operational awareness is a constant exercise. It is never a one and done achievement. It requires continuous observation, analysis, and attention. Without the proper tools and processes in place it can be exhausting and frustrating.
Some questions to ask:
- Do I know when important events are taking place within my operation?
- How long does it take to find out?
- Is my team aware of what has taken place shift over shift?
- Is there a centralized point of communication that is available to my team?
How do you get it?
The best means to begin achieving operational awareness is by having a centralized system in place to record events and operational notes. This central point of reference will make it easy for your team to collaborate and share information about the operation. Your team will use this to make more informed decisions and foster a safer work environment. Systems like LogBook provide an optimal platform for operational awareness. LogBook’s easy-to-use dashboard and supporting apps give your team the ability to collect, store, and share data from shift to shift.