Stop struggling achieving your next maturity level.
In today’s world many companies are struggling to make the next move in maturity. This applies specially to companies that already achieve level 2 or level 3.
Most companies use basic drawing tools to map their processes. Excel is used to manage risks & mitigating measures. WORD is used to maintain the operating procedures and work instructions. Initially this “lowly coupled chain” is somewhat correct. Completeness is in this set up always an issue; did we cover all regulations & legislations? After the initial set up the chain needs to be maintained. Processes will be updated, new organizational units occur, new business initiatives are developed, new regulations are introduced, additional risks are identified etc etc.
By the lack of overview on what is impacted, where it is documented and how it should be translated into processes, operating procedures, work instructions and supporting IT systems, one thing is for sure. You are not in control. Correctness and completeness are at risk. As a consequence you will not be able to achieve level 4 or level 5 in maturity. You need to spend more effort internally, so you are not able to focus on developing the business opportunities.
Is it all bad news though? No, it is possible to achieve level 4 or even level 5 in maturity. Pre-condition is that you manage your processes, business rules, legislations, risks, procedures and work instructions in a consistent solution. YMTY is such a solution. As you will not be able to jump at once from level 1 to level 5 in maturity, you will have to implement the YMTY solution gradually as well. By doing so, you will move up the maturity scale. So, take control now. Beat the change, before the change beats you!
How to achieve synergy?
Many companies have recently had acquisitions or new partnerships established. In general, it is the purpose to achieve synergy. However, synergy is not achieved by extensive calculations of possible benefits by headquarters. On the shopfloor(s) there will be a few things that have to happen. Products and services of the parties involved must be understood, and where possible integrated or harmonized.
In harmonizing many companies encountered a number of complications. Examples of these complications are the differences in business processes, differences in (product) definitions and that IT systems differ. So even if you want to collaborate, the complications will thwart you.
What is the solution? Use standards for all definitions and map your business processes based on these definitions. Also capture the underlying business rules per business process. With this set, and of course a bit of support tooling like YMYT, you can make the comparison between the parties involved. Then choose the best practice, and start applying it. Finally you will grab the profits that headquarters had calculated long before !!