Operational excellence explained

Operational excellence refers to the systematic implementation of principles and tools designed to enhance organizational performance and create a culture focused on continuous improvement. It is intended to enable employees to identify, deliver, and enhance the flow of value to customers. Common frameworks associated with operational excellence include lean management and Six Sigma, which emphasize efficiency, waste reduction, and quality improvement. Organizations that adopt these practices may report increased customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.^[1]

This approach employs the tools of earlier continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, OKAPI,^[2] and scientific management.

The concept of operational excellence was first introduced in the early 1970s by Dr. Joseph M. Juran,^[3] while teaching Japanese business leaders how to improve quality.

It was formalized in the United States during the 1980s, in response to the influx of quality goods imported from Japan, shrinking the market share of large companies, whom deemed this trend "the crisis".^[4]

Models of Operational Excellence

The Juran Model

In the early 1970s, Dr. Joseph M. Juran was one of the few experts at the time who taught Japanese business leaders how to improve quality. As more companies began to adopt the methods of Juran, W. Edwards Deming, and others, Toyota's Operational Excellence movement grew. In contemporary manufacturing, Operational Excellence employs a strategic approach to achieve lean operations. ^[5]

According to Juran's Model, there are five key components fundamental to operational excellence:

The first component, an Integrated Management System (IMS), offers a framework of processes and standards that help define the organization's direction, identify potential risks, mitigate those risks, manage change, and ensure continuous improvement. A single integrated management system may reduce overlap, redundancy, and conflict. Early adopters of this practice include companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron, which have implemented the Operations Integrity Management System (OIMS)^[6] and the Operations Excellence Management System (OEMS),^[7] respectively.

The second component, a culture of operational discipline, refers to the consistent adherence to established procedures and standards ensuring tasks are performed correctly and uniformly. This culture is based on five guiding principles derived from the practices of the United States Nuclear Navy. The guiding principles consist of integrity, a questioning attitude, level of knowledge, team backup, and formality. These principles define the expected behaviors of employees and explain how they contribute to achieving the goals and objectives of the organization.

The core components of the Juran Model for operational excellence are as follows:

1. Understand Juran's guiding principles,^[8] which provide the foundation for operational excellence.
2. Shift the organizational culture from viewing quality as a product attribute (often referred to as "little q") to recognizing it as a comprehensive customer experience (often referred to as "Big Q").
3. Recognize when and how to involve leadership and the workforce to enhance performance.
4. Establish an effective and efficient change infrastructure by utilizing appropriate tools and methods.
5. Focus on improving business process effectiveness and agility.

The Shingo Model

Devised by Dr. Shigeo Shingo, the Shingo Model encompasses ten guiding principles for operational excellence. The Shingo Institute, an organization that awards the Shingo Prize, has identified "Ten Guiding Principles in the Shingo Model" as forming the basis for building a sustainable culture of organizational excellence:^[9]

1. Respect every individual
2. Lead with humility
3. Seek perfection
4. Assure quality at the source
5. Flow and pull value
6. Embrace scientific thinking
7. Focus on process
8. Think systemically
9. Create constancy of purpose
10. Create value for the customer

The FLEX Methodology

The FLEX methodology, also known as PBED (Plan-Brief-Execute-Debrief), is an iterative management system initially developed for use by fighter pilots and later adapted for business contexts in 1998. ^[10] It incorporates elements similar to Agile's software development and emphasizes flexibility and adaptation based on real-world influences, namely through a process called debriefing.

The methodology consists of four steps:

• Plan: Formulating a strategy and aligning objectives among team members.
• Brief: Effectively communicating the plan to the execution team to ensure understanding.
• Execute: Implementing the plan whilst focusing on the defined objectives.
• Debrief: Analyzing the execution results against the initial plan, reflect on mistakes and learn from them to improve future performance.

See also

• Lean manufacturing
• Lean services
• Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence
• Six Sigma
• The Toyota Way
• Toyota Production System

Further reading

• Cole, R. E. (1999). Managing quality fads: How American business learned to play the quality game. Oxford University Press.
• Deming, W. E. (1986). Out of the crisis. MIT Press.
• Flint, J. (2023). Unveiling success with the OKAPI framework. Salford Professional Development. https://www.salford.ac.uk/okapi-framework
• Imai, M. (1986). Kaizen: The key to Japan's competitive success. McGraw-Hill.
• Juran, J. M., & De Feo, J. A. (2010). Juran’s quality handbook: The complete guide to performance excellence. McGraw-Hill.
• Liker, J. K. (2004). The Toyota way: 14 management principles from the world’s greatest manufacturer. McGraw-Hill.
• Mann, D. (2014). Creating a lean culture: Tools to sustain lean conversions. CRC Press.
• Pande, P. S., Neuman, R. P., & Cavanagh, R. R. (2000). The Six Sigma way: How GE, Motorola, and other top companies are honing their performance. McGraw-Hill.
• Weick, K. E., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2001). Managing the unexpected: Assuring high performance in an age of complexity. Jossey-Bass.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Six sigma versus lean manufacturing – An overview .
2. Web site: Flint . Jacob . September 5, 2023 . Unveiling Success With the OKAPI Framework . 16 October 2024 . Salford Professional Development.
3. Web site: 2020-08-05. What Does Operational Excellence Look Like?. 2021-12-07. Juran. en-US.
4. Web site: DeFeo . Joseph . 5 January 2024 . What Does Operational Excellence Look Like? . 16 October 2024 . Juran.
5. Web site: 2024-01-05 . Operational Excellence Programs for Organizations Juran . 2024-10-15 . Juran Institute, An Attain Partners Company . en-US.
6. News: Learn about the Operations integrity Management System at ExxonMobil . https://web.archive.org/web/20171206143231/http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/company/about-us/safety-and-health/operations-integrity-management-system . 2017-12-06 . 2017-12-07 . ExxonMobil . en.
7. Web site: Chevron OEMS - Chevron . 2017-12-07 . chevron.com . en-us.
8. Web site: The Juran Model. 2021-12-07. Juran. en-US.
9. Web site: The Shingo Model. The Shingo Institute.
10. Book: The Debrief Imperative: Fighter Pilots and The Secret Tool That Is Transforming Businesses The World over . Fastpencil Inc . 2014 . 9781607460404.