Page 133 - Serious Incident Prevention How to Achieve and Sustain Accident-Free Operations in Your Plant or Company

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Measurement and

Feedback

Measurement of performance compared to established standards is an
essential element of the serious incident prevention process.
Measurement, together with feedback of results to individuals and teams
responsible for performance, provides the foundation for an effective ac-
countability system. Measurement and feedback also facilitate the growth
of employee pride, enthusiasm, and job satisfaction.
Effective measurement is essential in monitoring progress in key per-
formance areas such as product quality, financial performance, customer
satisfaction, safety, and regulatory compliance. Rather than a burden im-
posed by management, measurement and feedback are consistent with
personal needs. The sport of bowling, for instance, would have little ap-
peal if performers had no knowledge of the pins knocked down—and
knowing the score is equally important in the workplace. Measurement
and feedback systems provide a source of focus and pride for point-of-
control personnel, serving to raise competitive instincts and promote un-
derstanding of the actions required to achieve and sustain improvements.
James Dyson, founder and chairman of the United Kingdom’s Dyson
Appliances Ltd., has a keen understanding of both the need for improved
processes and the fundamental human need for performance feedback.
While vacuuming the floor at home, Dyson noticed that his conventional

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