Preparation And Planning

When a company finally decides to do something about a problem, to fix something that hasn't been working for a long time or that everybody knew needed to be changed and updated, it isn't done lightly. It is a big decision to make a significant change, to disrupt the process and how people go about their work. Often times it is the work of many people over many months to get things done and to make that change.

That is why it is so essential to have a plan in place before anything is started on the ground. It can take days and weeks to take all of the information down and to take measurements and readings and to collect relevant information. This information then must be examined and read for signs into what can be changed and what can be improved upon. It then needs to be compared to what strategies for change are being considered.

You have to have theories and realistic data to back up the ideas for changing. You can't just say that something needs to be done and that you think that this will work better than that. You have to be able to reasonably prove that what you want to do will make the difference that you are promising and show why it will be better. If you can't do that, then there is no reason to undertake the process to change. Once everything is planned out and written down in a step by step process, it is time to put the plan in motion.

This is going to take every person on the team working together towards the same goal. Without everyone on the same page, you will have unpredicted slow downs and communication can easily break down. Once communication starts to falter, it is very difficult to get everybody moving in the same direction again without ceasing the entire process. These delays can eat into the planned time savings and set-up costs. Because if you're going to spend more money on downtime and improvements, then what you will save over a period of time, then it really isn't worth taking on such a large challenge.

It all comes down to preparation and planning and most importantly having the proper team in place to get the work done in a timely and efficient manner. After all, efficiency is what you are working towards and the reason you are making the changes in the first place.

By: Craig B Calvin

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