Pre Start Meetings: Top Tips To Get Better Results
It may be an Engineering Project or Routine Engineering work but it is very important to have Pre Start Meetings with all stakeholders.
It’s easy to put your head down and to charge “full steam ahead” with “all guns firing” at the start of the work period. Without planning or “thinking it through”
There should always be thinking and planning time before the start and a follow up of any major issues – AT THE END of the work period
To be asking the question – Is there a Better Way. And to think 3R Review – Refresh – Reset
At the start of each day or shift or “lump of work” take “time out” with the other key players – supervisors or contractors or whoever is directly involved and go over the work for the coming period.
OVERVIEW
- Typically a simple list on a white board or note pad which is captured
- Or a standard template may be created
- During the work period there will be issues which come out of “left field” – there always are
- But the more that is covered off and allowed for – the less impact the “left field” issues will have
- What are we aiming to achieve today – what are our targets
- What are the potential problems
- What are our fall back positions
- What is the current status
- etc etc – to suit the work
- Typically everyone will contribute and agree or bring up issues
- Keep it brief and to the point
- Understand and be aware that not all people are comfortable with Pre Start Meetings and you may meet resistance
- However – any resistance will need to be managed in a polite but firm manner
At the end of the work period the same group needs to meet for a short period of time to report on how they went against the starting list.
And of course it all repeats for the following work periods.
Not Only But Also …..
- Regardless of your current status – always ask the question – Is there a Better Way and
visit the 3R web page for an overview of the 3R Philosophy Review – Refresh – Reset - Whenever possible – always follow the KISS Principle
- Challenge yourself and your colleagues with an Engineering Quiz
- Go to List Of Pages – Engineering Nostalgia for Old Engineer Memories from Engineering practice in the 1960’s/70’s/80’s – with a bit of armed forces and medieval trivia thrown in
- Check out Engineering Odd Bits for odd subject matter – including humor and comment