Metrics Improvement strategies Performance

Once the objectives for the process safety system are understood, the next step is to develop a strategy for reaching those objectives. Many actions will likely be proposed to improve performance, but without an unbiased measure to evaluate system performance, the improvement strategies may or may not be effective. This is where the indicators of performance or metrics play a major role in the performance improvement effort. Monitoring the performance of the system elements will provide the important feedback for understanding whether performance improvement plans are effective or may need modification. Metrics are the fundamental data that will help those implementing improvement efforts understand how well these efforts are progressing. 

Very early in life people discover experience is a good teacher. This idea also applies to safety and health. Understanding what happened in incidents and why they occurred can lead to preventive actions for similar situations. Records of incidents offer reactive strategies to improve safety performance. They are trailing indicators of performance. Many organizations also compile data on leading indicators of safety performance. Leading indicators measure actions that can prevent incidents. Chapter 35 will explore both types of metrics further. 

Communicating with those who can and do influence process safety is a key to improvement. Many individuals across an organization share objectives to improve process safety. Metrics are a valuable resource to everyone involved in improving performance, and communicating results is a key activity in maintaining a successful improvement effort. Effectively sharing results in a timely manner is the central objective for the communications strategy, and it is important to plan how results will be clearly communicated. 

Previous chapters have addressed ways to identify, implement, and communicate new or improved process safety metrics. This chapter discusses strategies and tactics to convert information derived from metrics into actions that improve performance. While specific activities and programs may vary among organization, basic strategies and approaches include ... 

Knowledge evolves over time as research and development yields operational enhancements to process facilities. ISA-TR84.00.04-1 Annex R provides examples of key performance indicators that can be used to monitor aspects of the SIS lifecycle. Events involving abnormal operation may identify weaknesses in the risk-reduction strategy, leading to the need for more safeguards and improved performance metrics. New ideas identify ways to lower risk further. 

Phase 5 - Metrics, training and improvement plans This phase is to review the strategy for measuring the performance of MOC, through key performance indicators and, where necessary, implementing improvements to the process. 

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