Have you ever heard of Management By Walking Around (MBWA)? This is an extremely important tool in QHSE management, and it is something which you should be taking advantage of if you are not already.
Here, we are going to look at what MBWA is and how it can improve your business. Keep reading to find out more.
What Is MBWA?
If you aren’t familiar with MBWA, it is very simple. This is a kind of approach that is hands-on, and it involves managers listening to employees. Those conducting an MBWA approach will collect information and make changes to the workplace based on their informal visits. Keeping a finger on the pulse is very important and an MBWA approach helps to achieve this.
While this kind of approach might not seem like something out of the ordinary, many managers and directors simply don’t spend enough time on the floor at the coal face walking in the steps of their workers. This means that important information is not passed on and lost opportunity for improving how things operate based on the information from the people that undertake the tasks. With MBWA, we can see results much sooner and reap the benefits.
How Does It Work?
Following an MBWA approach is a lot simpler than it sounds. Firstly, you should know that this approach isn’t structured, so you don’t need to schedule in the same time each week to make your visit. This should be random in order to get a better idea of the inner workings.
Once you get there, you must spend enough time to really make an impact. Don’t just show up and leave ten minutes later, this is not the right approach to MBWA. You must speak to the workers and let them know that you are there to help them. Try to listen carefully and avoid criticism. This is not your time to tell them what they should and shouldn’t be doing.
Listen and figure out the solution at another time.
This is a hands-on approach, so you need to make sure that you are getting your hands dirty when you visit. Possibly even try to do the work that you expect your workers to do and earn their respect. Through this, you could realise that maybe your expectations are too high or that things need to change.
Qualitative Information
If you are unsure about how this can improve your business, then you should know that there is a focus on qualitative information gathering. This is unusual for QHSE, compliance and improvement managers who are familiar with gathering quantitative information regularly. The qualitative information is what you will use to adjust your organisation and the processes that you are using.
Try to remember this and record anything that you see fit. Then, when your visit is over, you can make the necessary changes that you need to, with the help from the team that suggested them. This will massively improve your business and will show your team that you care about what they have to say.