Re: What does "lean" really mean

[BRZGV@ccmail.ceco.com]

     As per previous discussions, it's obvious that staffing levels have 
     absolutely nothing to do with utility performance.  Here are a couple 
     of different thoughts:
     
     
     Individual performance
     
     In the end, it comes down to the performance and work ethic of 
     individuals.  Like the Dallas Cowboy's commercial where Jerry Jones 
     talked about Deion,"Give me eleven men like that and I can rule the 
     world."  That comment isn't to far off from reality.  I have been 
     involved in some successful military units and sports teams and it 
     truly takes everyone giving it their best shot.
     
     
     Bureaucracy
     
     As a workforce starts to become to big with many layers, the ability 
     to get things done goes down hill.
     
     
     Workforce management
     
     Union vs non-union plant makes a world of difference...  It's 
     difficult to be competitive when it takes three people to change a 
     lightbulb.  No disrespect intended, but a union plant must work much 
     smarter to be competitive with the non-union plants to make up for the 
     inefficient use of personnel.
     
     
     
     Ability to make process improvements
     
     If a staff spends 95 percent of it's time just performing routine 
     duties, there is not enough time to perform process improvements which 
     would lessen the routine burded.  Kinda like which came first, the 
     chicken or the egg...Vicious circle.
     
     
     
     Good leadership
     
Some of the best lieutenants were once grunts...  Often times managers don't 
really know what is reasonable because they really don't understand the task.  
Experience and common sense is key.



A few observations and a million disclaimers

Glen


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: What does "lean" really mean
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at INTERNET
Date:    4/8/96 4:30 PM


     This article was published in Public Utilities Fortnightly, 2/1/96, 
     page 54. I found it to be interesting, and, is presented here for 
     information only.
     
     ---------------------------------------
     According to Mercer Management Consulting's 1995 utility Staffing 
     Survey, being the leanest utility around doesn't necessarily guarantee 
     success. All survey information was based on 1995 participants in the 
     survey:
     
     The leanest utilities did not achieve superior growth rates in 
     operating profit. The survey found there was very little correlation 
     between staffing levels and growth rate in operating profit between 
     1990 and 1994.
     
     Lean utilities generally did not enjoy superior stock market 
     performance. In fact, the highest growth rates in market value of 
     common stock occurred with utilities having the largest relative 
     staffs.
     
     Large staffing decreases do not always translate into increasing 
     common stock prices. The survey found that the market value increased 
     the most during the 1990s for companies that increased staffing.
     
     Utilities with staff increases experienced the highest rate of 
     operating growth.
     
     This report also featured bar graph depiction's of the survey results, 
     showing the percentages growth in terms of staffing changes  
     throughout each year's quarters.
     --------------------------------------- 
     
     I do not have any information regarding how many utilities are 
     nuclear, or the mix. I will try and get a full copy of the article.
     
     
     Sandy Perle        
     Supervisor Health Physics
     Florida Power and Light Company
     Nuclear Division
     Juno Beach, FL
     
     (407) 694-4219 Office
     (407) 694-3706 Fax
     
     sandy_perle@email.fpl.com
     
     homepage: http://www.lookup.com/homepages/54398/home.html
     
     DISCLAIMER: The comments and opinions are mine alone and do not        
                 necessarily reflect those of my employer