What is the best sequence? The right order?

When I start a job, not necessarily work related, but rather an activity. I didn't used to consider which activity specifically I should do first. My health issues mentioned in the last newsletter led me to consider sequence. In doing so I started looking at the wider aspects of sequence and how a specific activity fitted into a task as a whole.

This of course led me to research the topic further, I listened to an audio book work clean, quite enlightening but their reference material opened my eyes. Mis-en-place is a term used by chef's, its about a right place for everything and everything in its place a bit like the principles of six sigma used manufacturing. I've been involved in a number of six sigma projects so I understand how these are structured and applied in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

What surprised me though is how much more detail is included in mis-en-place. The idea isn't just to have the right materials in the right place at the right time, to reduce the 8 wastes to have the tools and equipment in the right place ready on a shadow board, chef's take it much further. Which activity is first, how can you reduce space so that movement is less, where exactly must an individual be, not just make sure there is enough space but rather where does he or she need to be in relation to everything else; people, equipment, utensils, ingredients work in progress and of course finished products.

The science of getting it exactly right so that you have every ingredient, mixture and finished meal in perfect condition at exactly the right time must be something to behold. When you bear in mind this is not a single person its a whole team maybe 15 chefs in a variety of roles within the kitchen and everything is aligned to satisfy every customer on time to perfection.

I have applied the principles I learned to may own working practices first naturally. The optimum approach to learning something is of course to apply the knowledge in practice. In my office this is working to some extent, I've never been a fan of tidying up so I do on occasion miss the work clean philosophy but I find its usually when I think something is there that needs to be dealt with and I don't have time.

When it comes to individual tasks and activities I use TRello to plan my day, my week and more. I wouldn't say I've perfected my practice but then I've only been doing this a number of months and getting it right takes time and execution as well as review and continuous improvement.

Now recently I announced the launch of my academy, The Academy of Pharmaceutical Excellence. I have been investigating the best approach to provide the right service to the Pharmaceutical Industry in such a way that it most benefits the companies, the employees and of course the patient. Today I had a revelation, it came to me in the shower "of course" things come to mind when you stop thinking. Training, just like the practical side of manufacturing and distribution needs to follow the same principles of sequence. Using the Trello board the idea is to automate everything you can and everything else including meetings are tasks, these get their own card and you plan for the best sequence to achieve all deliverables on time or early.

Now think about training and education, the basic principles, the application of those principles and academic knowledge. When do we plan in advance the training and skills development of individuals in such detail as to maximise the benefit. We look at a task maybe a full process identify what they need to know and build a training package around that. Often there are no prerequisites, no basics which have to be in place. Maybe there is the required regulatory GMP or GDP training and a company induction but not a standardised methodology for introducing the basic concepts of Quality Assurance, the interrelationships of the departments, how to communicate and the potential impact of not following current best practice and much more.

To find out more about how I will be offering a service to fill this gap please subscribe to my newsletter here on LinkedIn where I will be keeping you up to date with my progress.