SAFETY & HAZARDOUS AREAS DEVELOP A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION For more on how to


reopen safely this spring, view SafetyCulture's


COVID-19 Resource Hub with free digitised


COVID-19 guidance from governments and leading industry bodies


Dan Joyce, general manager, EMEA at SafetyCulture, explains how to gear up operations post-lockdown, and drive excellence on the floor


M


ore than a year on from the start of the pandemic, and as lockdown restrictions ease across the UK, it’s a


good time to reflect on the procedures that have helped the manufacturing sector to manage the past year and what lies ahead. While being on site has always carried risks


(manufacturing is a high-risk industry), the pandemic has brought about an entirely new environment. When you’re standardising critical site operations in the face of evolving guidance, processes need to be defined and refined time and time again. The sector has had to adapt to these new circumstances despite often having fewer people on the ground and far less operational flexibility. While manufacturing has adapted well, it’s


important for those in the sector not to become complacent. It’s vital to evaluate and make sure you have strategies and plans to scale operations. At SafetyCulture, we’ve supported thousands of businesses by providing digital tools that do the heavy lifting. As operations professionals, we’re all aware how technology can help manage demand, risk and safety — but there are further benefits to be realised by consolidating your processes with the right tools. Prior to the pandemic, digital


transformations were too often placed in the ‘nice to have’ category. COVID-19 made us realise that technology is operation critical. Investing in the right technology enables businesses to step into the future of work. Thoughtfully designed digital processes


give businesses numerous advantages over manual processes by being agile. Agility is at the core of digital platforms; it’s easy to tweak and improve a process or add in new steps to meet new COVID protocols. Quickly changing circumstances requires technology that can adapt just as fast. Analogue tools have been a burden for


20 MAY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL


decades and the pandemic exposed just how outdated paper has become. By making the switch to digital, it opens up a whole new era of real-time monitoring. For those already making use of contactless technology such as sensors, there are short-term and long dividends to be realised. In the short-term, it gives you a better overview of what’s happening, as it happens. This transparency means employees have confidence that the documents they’re working from are correct and in date. But immediate visibility is just the beginning.


In making the shift to digital, you can bring your organisation together into one centralised system rather than operate in silos. By inputting all of your data into the one platform, it gives you oversight of each element of the business and the ability to view it as an entire ecosystem. This means the organisation can see what’s working well and how it can adapt elements for other functions, as well as identify areas of operational inefficiency and work towards a solution — whether in Good Manufacturing Practices, Condition Based Maintenance or otherwise. If there’s one thing we learnt in 2020, it’s the


power of the collective - working together to combat COVID-19. If one person did not follow the rules, then it undermined the work of others. The same principles apply for organisations; it’s now vital for frontline workers to feel empowered as a collective to drive and improve practices. Fast access to data has been critical during


the pandemic and all employees have had to stay vigilant and respond to any health- related safety precautions as they arise. By giving everyone the responsibility to speak up and highlight issues, it embeds a culture of responsibility and in turn, transparency. Empowering your employees isn’t just


important for health and safety reasons, it’s a


key part of the future of work. Organisations that actively work towards collaborating across teams and removing silos are more likely to achieve their operational goals. In the next decade, the top companies will


be the ones giving voice to their entire teams. The best way to learn is from people with their eyes and ears on the ground - the ones who day in, day out see what’s working and where improvements can be made. Involving working teams can be made


easier by using technology. Organisations should review their existing systems and investigate how to take advantage of what’s already there. By using mobile-based platforms like iAuditor, frontline employees are empowered to record what they’re seeing on the ground in real time and observations can be quickly substantiated with data. When people start to see changes happen, it then creates a cycle of continuous improvement, moving the organisation forward. Making sure every employee has up to date


training and accreditations has always been important for the manufacturing sector. A fresh approach, by taking training online helps create interactive ways of learning that are more likely to be retained by employees. Digital platforms like EdApp help transform


businesses’ training courses into simple, bite- sized learning experiences. Such interactive courses can help teams stay on top of new policies and procedures. Taking time to evaluate ways of working


helps shape the future of our workplaces. As we emerge from the pandemic it’s important to tackle complacency or a desire to return to ‘normal’. We can do this by investing in technology, investigating new ways of working and giving employees a voice.


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