Granite Newsletter July 2014 - Jorge Quintero
- 1. Granite Newsletter ͮ Volume 8 - Issue 7 - 2014 WĂŐĞ ϯ Jorge Quintero: Improving Productivity by Simplifying Processes Throughout Granite, we’re focused on Simplification. We’re taking a hard look at how we do business and finding ways to do it better, smarter and faster. Jorge Quintero, IT Program Manager, is helping to drive productivity with technology and a few creative ideas. The result is simpler processes which save time and improve safety, productivity and quality. Jorge is driving Simplification by: 1. Automating Shift Handover Process The standard process for Shift Handovers was a manual email that could take more than 20 minutes to write. Jorge worked with Ismaira Chavez, Alan Carruth and Bill Guerrero to develop a solution incorporating an automated Excel template with drop- down menus. This new tool reduces the time it takes to prepare and submit a Shift Handover to just 10-15 minutes. In addition to providing a more standard approach in our team’s turnovers, the additional data entry points help increase productivity by improving tracking of delays and cost of quality. 2. Simplifying Lift Plan Documents In 2013, GE Corporate introduced additional processes resulting in five new documents that became mandatory for a critical lift. This was in addition to the already widely used Granite and GE lift plan/permits. Jorge partnered with Oscar Paredes, Alan Carruth and Bill Guerrero to simplify the Lift Plan processes. They consolidated the five documents and 13 pages into just two Granite-centric documents with only eight pages, and reduced the data points from 117 to 95. The result: the time it takes to construct a lift plan has been reduced from 48+ minutes to 27+ minutes. This once again produced tangible time savings, increasing productivity. 3. Enhancing Communication with a Budgetary Cost Estimate As we migrate from PWS to Arcturus, Jorge worked very closely with Ryan Richmond to generate a simple Budgetary Cost Estimate tool to communicate job specific requirements for outages. This new tool drives efficient communication among the SM’s and FSC’s throughout project set-up. 4. Developing the Granite Smart Application Jorge is working closely with our IT, productivity, quality and EHS teams to support increased productivity within our field operations teams through the Granite Smart Application. Currently in the concept testing phase with supervisors, this application would incorporate many of the business’ mandatory tools and documents into one centralized location which will decrease the data entry points so site leaders can spend more time on the turbine deck. Specific data will be auto- populated through the system’s intelligent tools and site leaders will then be able to input the job or issue-specific details. A revised time card is also under development in conjunction with the Smart Application. As we act on our vision to centralize data, Granite is working to simplify time card processes by allowing all time entry on mobile devices. Once again, through the Smart Application, Jorge has delivered a means to increase productivity of our supervisors, and ensure flawless execution through more time on the turbine deck. We are continually seeking better, simpler ways to do things. Jorge’s accomplishments serve as a reminder that employees are our best resource for new ideas and creative solutions. Are you involved in a system or process that you think could be simplified? Discuss your ideas with your manager!