Discussion - s1032cn10015

DOE-STD-1032-92

3. DISCUSSION

Operational excellence is the main goal of DOE and DOE facilities; protecting the

environment and improving safety and productivity complement this goal. A facility's

organization must be properly directed to ensure that all three elements are effectively

addressed. Establishing policies and setting goals to achieve a safe, environmentally

conscious, and efficient operating facility are essential to focus this direction. These policies

and goals are an effective method of communicating direction to all personnel.

The organization and administration of facility operations should clearly define the process

for providing and supporting safe, reliable, and efficient conduct of all facility activities.

Emphasis must be placed on teamwork to ensure this occurs. A clear understanding by

personnel of their authorities, responsibilities, accountabilities, and interfaces is essential to

proper functioning of the organizational team. The organizational structure must be clearly

defined, and the administrative controls implementing the structure must be formally

documented to achieve this understanding.

Management must emphasize performance standards and individual accountability in

adhering to policies and accomplishing goals. When personnel are aware of the performance

standards required to meet the goals, they will be more inclined to acknowledge their

accountability. In addition, personnel must be allowed the opportunity to supply input to the

policies, goals, and standards so that they have a sense of ownership of the facility. Given

this opportunity, personnel will more willingly support standards and accept accountability.

Personnel must have the resources needed to perform their jobs. Restricting or delaying

resources will only hinder operational effectiveness and may result in adverse consequences.

Because personnel are one of the resources required to operate a facility, a plan to retain

sufficient personnel to safely and efficiently operate the facility must be developed.

To ensure that resources are being properly used and operating activities are directed

towards goals, management must monitor operations. Monitoring facility operating