Industryweek 3929 H1439 Okes Coverpromo
Industryweek 3929 H1439 Okes Coverpromo
Industryweek 3929 H1439 Okes Coverpromo
Industryweek 3929 H1439 Okes Coverpromo
Industryweek 3929 H1439 Okes Coverpromo

Operations: The High Cost of Poor Decisions

Feb. 14, 2013
Metrics may be a bedrock of operational improvement, but using them wisely continues to be a challenge.

"Frustrating" is the word Duke Okes uses to describe his reaction to the question, "What performance measures should I use?" The author of "Performance Metrics: The Levers for Process Improvement" doesn't get frustrated because it is a bad question to ask, but because it should never be the first question you ask, and the answer always is "It depends."

See Also: Operations Management Strategy & Best Practices It depends, he says, on what you are trying to accomplish. "Ask 'What is the direction I am trying to go in? What is the mission and strategy of my department or operation?'" he says. "What you measure will be determined by the answers to [those questions]." With "Performance Metrics" (2013, Quality Press), Okes focuses not on high-level metrics, such as revenue or profit -- "most organizations have those" -- but on the lower-level metrics that drive the high-level outcomes.
In addition to the basics, Okes' new book addresses what he says is an often overlooked factor in discussions about performance metrics -- the psychological impact. Quite simply, he says, "they often scare people because they can impact pay, performance and even the sense of self." Given that, Okes suggests organizations not simply impose metrics and demand they be followed, but instead test them. "Don't just expect people to understand metrics and use them effectively." Be aware as well, he says, of the games people can play with metrics, and put measures in place to prevent it. He cites the example of a purchasing department being asked to perform to a lowest-cost metric. In their drive to meet that measure, buyers procure components that achieve their goals but create chaos down the production line due to quality or delivery issues. Okes advice: Make sure the metrics you select don't mistakenly promote individual- or department-level performance to the detriment of the overall organization. In the purchasing example, a better system-level metric may have been total cost of ownership. For many organizations, numbers are what trip them up when it comes to addressing performance metrics. How many metrics should you follow? How frequently do you measure them? Technology has only eased the ability to collect vast quantities of data, whether they are needed or not. That ease propels Okes to issue a caution. "One of the things we should be paying more attention to is the cost of metrics. Since many systems are computerized, we can measure everything, but there is a cost. There is a cost to write code, a cost to set up the system, a cost to acquire and process and report and review and make decisions," he says. "The potential cost to making a bad decision is huge."

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Getting the Most From Integrated Business Planning: A Collection

Feb. 22, 2024
Through this series of articles, you’ll get a definitive look at the power of IBP and how to leverage that power.

Four Keys To Operational Excellence

Sept. 20, 2023
As manufacturers face supply chain disruption and shrinking margins, increasing operations performance is critical. Our smart manufacturing guidebook can help you achieve the ...

6 Steps for Implementing Agile Mobile Robots

March 24, 2024
Discover how to get started with game changing automation.

Closed-loop change management supports faster and better project execution

Feb. 8, 2023
Closed-loop change management can save your shipbuilding projects from getting derailed. Our eBook has all the details. Download it now to learn more.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!