Operations 101

In the business world, success is often measured by efficiency. That's why streamlining operations is more than just useful - it's essential. By identifying inefficiencies in business operations, reducing wastage, and improving productivity, a business will effectively save time and costs, thus increasing profitability. This is where your General Manager (GM) will make all the difference. An effective GM will optimise your business processes, ensuring they align with company goals and values. At BPC, Cassandra Allen optimises our business operations, allowing us to deliver quality services and meet client expectations. 

Providing clarity

The first step towards streamlining your operations is to identify any inefficiencies in your processes. A strong GM will effectively analyse a business’ workflows and identify any areas that need improvement. For example, you may have a bottleneck in your production line or an outdated system for managing inventory. Careful analysis of existing systems is critical to effectively understand how any changes to existing processes can impact the wider network of business operations. Cassandra ensures that changes to BPC's processes undergo thorough analysis before being implemented to ensure that we are effectively targeting the root cause of the issue.

Developing a plan

Once inefficiencies within processes are identified, it becomes time to develop a plan for improvement. This may involve re-engineering workflows, updating systems, or retraining staff. Cassandra assists us in developing a comprehensive plan that addresses all areas of our operations. The plan created by a diligent GM should include specific goals, timelines, and measures of success. This also ensures that all staff are aligned with the goals and values of a business, thus, creating maximum efficiency in processes and allowing for increased buy-in from staff. 

Implementing the plan

Implementing the plan is where the real work begins. This involves putting your plan into action and making any necessary changes to your operations. A compelling GM helps by overseeing this implementation process and ensuring that all staff are on board with the changes. When implementing plans, Cassandra explores ways to automate repetitive processes to increase productivity. She also creates standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all tasks to ensure consistency and efficiency. Communication is crucial throughout this phase to ensure that all staff understand the new workflows and procedures - creating team cohesion.

Monitoring and measuring success

Once the plan has been implemented, it's important to monitor and measure its success. This will help determine whether the changes have had their desired effect on your operations. A GM can help by setting up metrics and reports that track the progress of the improvements. This will facilitate the business to make any necessary adjustments and ensure that operations continue to run smoothly.

The input of a strong General Manager can be the difference between a struggling business and a thriving one. To learn more about why the general manager is vital for business success, follow Cassandra Allen as she explains her experiences as a GM at Barclay Pearce Capital.