At enFocus, we specialize diving deep into organizational challenges and finding solutions to overcome obstacles. Recently, we have had an opportunity to dig-deep and design solutions for the regional manufacturer Skidmore, a Swan Group Company. Second year Fellow, Matthew Decloedt, had the opportunity to receive hands-on experience with Skidmore pumps. He trained two weeks as a pump operator and used his insights to understand how to best make a standard operating procedure to assemble the pumps and their pieces. Matthew’s experience not only shapes future advancement at Skidmore, but also continues to shape how we spur economic innovation through local business growth at enFocus.
Skidmore faced a challenge, the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). A SOP is used to give clear and detailed directions to perform a specific task specifically and efficiently. It may sound simple, but Skidmore needed to outline and streamline procedures for pump assembly with invariable and consistent results for their customers. Matthew joined their efforts in advancing a comprehensive SOP that would ensure they would tackle their challenge and provide a comprehensive plan for next-steps.
In order to design a SOP, Matthew first needed to understand all the steps involved. So, Matthew stepped in as a pump operator for two weeks. He says that his experience showed him how important it is to receive all the instructions given to new operators to go forward and create a system that would inform members on the steps during the assembling process.
He describes his experience saying, “By immersing myself as an operator, I gained firsthand insights into the challenges, intricacies, and nuances of the assembly process. This experience helped me relate better to the operators, understand their needs, and identify potential areas for improvement within the processes. Technically, it allowed me to grasp the finer details that might not be apparent solely from manuals or guidelines. It bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enabling a more comprehensive and effective SOP.” Standard operating procedures may seem small, but can have huge benefits for companies.
Matthew continues to emphasize the significance of procedures by sharing, “This SOP will streamline operations, reducing ambiguity and variability in processes. It will serve as a guide for operators, especially new trainees, enhancing their onboarding experience and accelerating their learning curve. Ultimately, the SOP will optimize productivity, minimize errors, and promote a culture of continuous improvement within the organization, contributing to overall operational excellence.”
Throughout the project’s design phase of the SOP, Matthew was able to immerse himself in the assembling process, learn step-by-step, and receive hand-on execution of the pumps. He gained the opportunity to gain the collective knowledge of experienced employees and their practical expertise.
Matthew helped streamline operations and develop additional resources for Skidmore’s employees, and also had the opportunity to advance his own skills by working on the project. He used existing skills by creating work instructions, CAD drawings, and setup tables created to finalize a process that Skidmore can use. He expresses, “throughout the project’s design phase, I immersed myself in the entire pump assembly process, learning it step-by-step through hands-on manual execution. I leaned on the collective knowledge of experienced employees, absorbing their insights and practical expertise. The combination of experiences enabled me to create a comprehensive guide that serves as a starting point for addressing any questions that arise in the assembly process.”
The sponsor of the project, JT Whitman, Director of Operations says, “Working with enFocus was a delightful experience that provided a comprehensive document outlining our standard operating procedures for assembly. The SOP has already proven to be helpful for efficiency and onboarding while also providing an excellent format to use in future manuals.”
Matthew’s work is aimed at making a valuable resource for Skidmore and its employees. The development of the SOP captures the collective knowledge of employees, and will continue to teach operators how to streamline operations. Working alongside partners like Skidmore provides Fellows with the unique opportunity to truly dig-deep into creative problem solving, and design a plan with the best interest of those who will use the resources day-in and day-out. Fellows like Matthew are excited to continue our work and partnership with local manufactures to ensure that they maximize their specialized capabilities.
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