What if you have all the systems?

Often, when OTIF (On Time In Full) performance needs to improve, we look at our processes, procedures and systems.

But, what if you have done this work already? What if you have already defined your processes and know, more or less, what you should be doing?

Could it be something else?

OTIF needs consistency

One factor that I have included in my discussions with consulting clients is the need for discipline within an organisation.

I’m not referring to ‘disciplinary procedures’ when someone isn’t performing correctly, I’m talking about being able to repeat the same activity over and over again.

Processes only work when they are consistent. Consistency comes from being able to follow the rules and procedures, without deviation, day in and day out.

Often businesses don’t need another process. They just need to follow what they have already created.

What has decayed in your business?

As with many things in life, you don’t need a grandiose plan, you just need to start in order to make progress.

A good place to begin is with the processes that have obviously fallen over. We could evaluate all of the options and prioritise, but getting started is key.

Pick the best option from gut feel, or just the first one you find and make that your target for becoming disciplined.

Start with one habit

Find ways to make this process stick. Look at what your team is good at doing, consistently, and borrow ideas from that.

Take the one process you have chosen and make it a priority to get it to stick.

Measure it. Monitor it. Keep your focus on it until it has become second nature.

From here you can build.

Build OTIF habits

Using the newly re-established process as a reference, you and your team can start to build the other habits that you know about already.

This isn’t about re-inventing the wheel, this is just making sure that the wheel is connected to the axle and that it is turning!

Get your capacity plan working properly. Rejuvenate your sunrise meeting. Relaunch your shop floor data collection. Grip your contract review process.

You will most likely have these activities defined in your business. Take one and repeat the same process as you did before.

Focus on great days

When you establish effective habits you can start to focus on having great days.

Great days lead to great weeks, months and years.

If you have found your OTIF performance lacking but you know that you have already done the work to define the right processes and procedures for your business to handle your customers’ needs, then it might just be habits you need to focus on.

Start anywhere in your business and start switching the right habits on, one at a time, and watch your results improve.

Do you know where you are going to get started?