Some thoughts on Metrics...and how we influence performance.
Can RESULTS be managed? No, results are produced...not managed. Subtle difference in the definition, HUGE difference in the outcome. Results are measured. Behaviors are managed. Behaviors produce results. Manage the behaviors...under a given set of circumstances...then measure the results. There is no RESULT that ever occurred without a BEHAVIOR that either made it happen, allowed it to happen, influenced it, or failed to influence it. Forget about terms like "lagging" and "leading" when it comes to metrics. The words lagging and leading can give the connotation that you don't have a high degree of influence over the situation. Which you totally do. Instead, replace "lagging and leading" with "behavior and results". Now, we have Behavioral Metrics and Results Metrics. Behavioral Metrics measure the "decisions we made". Results Metrics measure the "effect we produced". In the Maintenance & Reliability space...there are a limited number of Behavioral Metrics that influence the MANY Results Metrics. To name a few Behavioral Metrics: 1) Schedule Compliance 2) % Proactive Work 3) % PM Corrective Work Completed 4) % PdM Corrective Work Completed 5) PM Schedule Compliance 6) % Planned Work These, along with a few others, drive the balance of the most popular M&R metrics, that are squarely in the Results Metrics category. 1) Availability 2) Maintenance Costs 3) MTBF 4) MTTR 5) Wrench Time Very often, we see organizations with ONLY Results Metrics and no idea how/why these metrics are moving in the direction they're moving. The leaders wind up making changes and simply hoping the changes work. Take a look at your M&R metrics. Are they mostly RESULTS metrics? Do you see any BEHAVIORAL metrics in there? Are there enough BEHAVIORAL metrics to make the difference in performance?