Data can make all the difference with continuous improvement. There are a lot of times when gut feelings are the right way to go but continuous improvement from data takes the ego away and provides clarity.
When you have data, and you identify trends, the reason to pursue a certain continuous improvement course becomes clear. This is one of the reasons that I am a big fan of using key performance indicators (KPIs) to help inform idea generation.
Meaningful KPIs
When you have a meaningful suite of KPIs, you can use them as a collection to help you identify ways to improve your business.
The information should tell you a story, which may then lead to conversations, which may then lead to inspiration and an action plan.
A word of warning. There is no point in having KPIs that don’t help you to steer your business. If they aren’t important to your mission, they are worth changing.
Align with continuous improvement
Take your review of KPIs and use them to generate continuous improvement opportunities. At first you might use them to identify gaps in performance that need to be addressed.
Later on, you might use the same KPIs to stimulate your thinking about how you achieve higher levels of performance. The sky really is the limit and this is a common journey for many.
Step 1, get under control. Step 2, strive for excellence.
The ultimate question
If you aren’t using your key performance indicators to direct at least some of your continuous improvement projects, what are you using them for?
If you are, great. The systematic completion of continuous improvement projects feeds an upward spiral of progress in any organisation.
Take a look at how you are using your KPIs today, just to be on the safe side!
