AAOM Handbook

SC.10 Document Suggestions Context

A work team and its leader have the accountability for safely completing all scheduled work and urgent work requests assigned to them, on time and to specification. Achievement of this is fundamental to the theory of the Operating Model, and hence to the delivery of the purpose of the business area in which the work is being completed. Each work team and its leader also have knowledge of the workplace, and experience in completing their work, that is not present in any other roles. It is therefore prudent to ensure that this knowledge and experience is drawn on to optimise the planning and scheduling of work. There are three points in the life cycle of work where this knowledge and experience are specifically tapped. The first point is during the identification and reporting of work requirements. Work team members are requested to record all work requirements that can be identified during the course of completing their assigned work, or during their movement about the workplace. All such work is reported through a Work Request, where work team members provide as much planning information for the identified work as can be gathered from their observations. The approver of the work is required to review and add to this information where necessary. The second point is during the planning process. No single person can provide all of the knowledge, experience and capacity to develop quality work packages for all work at all times. The work team and its leader are an ideal resource to utilise in circumstances where the person accountable for the planning lacks the necessary knowledge, experience or capacity. In this case a Task is raised within the Work Order for the purposes of specifying the type of planning input required, and scheduling the allocation of resources to compete that planning in time for the Scheduled Date of the work. The third point is as the schedule of approved Tasks is being developed. The person accountable for building the schedule does so by;  assigning all Tasks a Scheduled Date so that the Work Order they are part of will be completed before its Required Date,  utilising synergies and resolving conflicts between work packages, and  optimising the use of plant and resources. A regular review of the developing schedule by the supervisor and work team will allow them to identify ways to further optimise the schedule, to recognise potential critical issues that will threaten the schedule being achieved, and to suggest how to deal with those issues.

Purpose To identify any work team suggestions to improve the draft schedule.

© McAlear Management Consultants 2004

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