Operational performance
Operational performance is the measure of how well a company is able to achieve its goals and objectives through the operation of its processes. It is a metric that businesses use to measure their performance in terms of output, cost, productivity, quality and other factors. It is important for companies to measure their operational performance in order to ensure that their processes are efficient and effective.
Some factors that affect operational performance include:
- Quality of inputs: The quality of the input materials used in a process can have a significant impact on the operational performance of a company. Poor quality inputs can lead to delays and inefficiencies in the production process, resulting in lower output and higher costs.
- Process efficiency: Process efficiency is a measure of how efficiently a company is able to use its resources to produce a certain output. Companies need to have efficient processes in order to maximize their output while minimizing their costs.
- Technology: Technology can have a significant impact on operational performance. Companies that invest in the latest technologies are able to achieve higher output and lower costs than those that do not.
- Human resources: The quality of the human resources that a company employs can have a significant impact on its operational performance. Companies need to ensure that they have the right people in the right positions in order to maximize their efficiency.
- Operational strategy: The operational strategy of a company is the set of processes and procedures that it follows in order to achieve its goals and objectives. It is important for companies to have a well-defined operational strategy in order to ensure that their processes are effective and efficient.
Example of Operational performance
The operational performance of a company can be measured in a number of ways, such as by using the following formula:
This formula measures the actual output of a process relative to the expected output, and gives a percentage based index of operational performance. A higher score indicates that a process is more efficient, while a lower score indicates that there is room for improvement. Companies should strive for the highest operational performance index possible in order to maximize their efficiency and minimize their costs.
Formula of Operational performance
The formula for operational performance is:
Output / Input x 100
This formula measures the efficiency of a given process by calculating the ratio of output to input. For example, if a process has a total output of 100 units and a total input of 50 units, then the operational performance would be 200%.
When to use Operational performance
Operational performance is used to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of a company's processes. Companies use this metric to evaluate their performance in terms of output, cost, productivity, quality and other factors. It is an important metric for companies to use in order to ensure that their processes are as efficient and effective as possible. Operational performance can be used to compare the performance of different processes and to identify areas where improvements can be made.
Types of Operational performance
Operational performance can be broken down into two main categories: operational efficiency and operational effectiveness.
- Operational efficiency: Operational efficiency is a measure of how efficiently a company is able to use its resources to produce a certain output. Companies need to have efficient processes in order to maximize their output while minimizing their costs.
- Operational effectiveness: Operational effectiveness is a measure of how well a company is able to achieve its goals and objectives through the operation of its processes. It is important for companies to measure their operational performance in order to ensure that their processes are efficient and effective.
In conclusion, operational performance can be broken down into two main categories: operational efficiency and operational effectiveness. Operational efficiency is a measure of how efficiently a company is able to use its resources to produce a certain output, while operational effectiveness is a measure of how well a company is able to achieve its goals and objectives through the operation of its processes. It is important for companies to measure their operational performance in order to ensure that their processes are efficient and effective.
Steps of achieving Operational performance
- Set a goal: Before starting to measure operational performance, it is important to set a goal that the company wants to achieve. This goal should be specific and measurable so that it can be used as a benchmark for measuring progress.
- Analyze current performance: After setting a goal, the next step is to analyze the current performance of the company. This includes looking at the output, cost, productivity, quality and other factors that affect operational performance.
- Identify areas of improvement: Once the current performance has been analyzed, it is important to identify areas where improvement can be made. This includes looking at processes, technology, human resources, and other factors that could be improved.
- Implement changes: After identifying areas of improvement, the next step is to implement the necessary changes. This could include investing in new technology, changing processes, training employees, or other measures.
- Measure performance: The final step is to measure performance and compare it to the goal that was set. This will help to identify areas of success and areas that need further improvement.
Advantages of Operational performance
- Improved efficiency: By measuring and analyzing operational performance, businesses can identify areas of inefficiency and take steps to improve them. This can lead to increased efficiency and cost savings.
- Increased productivity: By improving the efficiency of their processes, businesses can increase their output and productivity levels, resulting in higher profits.
- Improved quality: By monitoring and improving their processes, businesses can improve the quality of their output, resulting in improved customer satisfaction.
- Better decision making: Through the analysis of operational performance data, businesses can gain insights into their operations and make better informed decisions.
Limitations of Operational performance
Operational performance is not a perfect metric for measuring a company's performance, as it can be influenced by a number of external factors. These include external economic conditions, changes in consumer demand, and changes in technology. Additionally, operational performance is only a measure of short-term performance, and does not take into account the long-term effects of a company's decisions. Finally, it does not account for intangible factors, such as customer satisfaction and employee morale.
In addition to measuring operational performance, there are other approaches that can be taken to improve it. These include:
- Process improvement: Process improvement is the process of identifying and implementing changes to a process in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Companies can use process improvement techniques such as Six Sigma and Lean to identify inefficiencies in their processes and make improvements that will lead to higher output and lower costs.
- Automation: Automation can be used to reduce costs and increase output. Automation can be used to reduce labor costs, increase process speed and accuracy, and reduce errors.
- Data analysis: Companies can use data analysis to identify areas of inefficiency in their processes and make changes that will lead to improvements in operational performance. Data analysis can also be used to identify trends in customer demand and adjust production accordingly.
In conclusion, there are a number of approaches that can be taken to improve operational performance. These include process improvement, automation and data analysis. By taking these approaches, companies can identify inefficiencies in their processes and make changes that will lead to higher output and lower costs.
Operational performance — recommended articles |
Workforce productivity — Diseconomies of scale — Operational controlling — Measurement of capacity — Productivity report — Efficiency and effectiveness — Sales price variance — Variable overhead efficiency variance — Sales mix |
References
- Voss, C. A., Åhlström, P., & Blackmon, K. (1997). Benchmarking and operational performance: some empirical results. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 17(10), 1046-1058.
- Samson, D., & Terziovski, M. (1999). The relationship between total quality management practices and operational performance. Journal of operations management, 17(4), 393-409.