Published 31 Jan 2023
What is Operational Readiness?
Operational readiness is a disciplined, methodical, and progressive review that ensures all project deliverables are complete and tested to help achieve a smooth start-up followed by safe steady-state operations. Operational readiness aims to reduce operational risks so it carefully reviews common culprits such as inadequate or failed internal processes, people, systems in place, and any other factors that can critically affect start-up and the overall schedule of operations.
Operational Readiness Checklist (Construction)
This operational readiness checklist for small to medium-sized construction projects can be used by project managers to perform readiness assessments of a facility before start-up or restart. With this customizable digital operational readiness checklist, managers can easily capture critical information and inform key individuals of any problems identified in a facility. Use this checklist to:
- Attach and annotate photos as supporting documents during inspections
- Immediately identify red flags during inspections and assign corrective actions to process owners
- Easily track the status of operational readiness review timelines and actions
- Automate workflows to trigger push notifications for deadlines
- Sign off operational readiness checklists with electronic signatures
In this article
- Why Use an Operational Readiness Checklist?
- 4 Steps to Ensure a Smooth Project Start-Up
- Efficient Operational Readiness Processes With SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor)
- Featured Operational Readiness Checklists
Why Use an Operational Readiness Checklist?
An operational readiness checklist is a structured project assessment tool that outlines the pre-startup processes and specifications that will bring a project to a state of readiness to commence or restart. It is performed prior to start-up of new processes or existing processes that were previously shut down.
Operations project managers from the oil and gas, construction, and mining industries benefit from using an operational readiness checklist as it helps confirm that the people, procedures, and systems are in place to ensure timely delivery, commissioning, and handover of infrastructure projects.
This operational readiness checklist for construction is divided into the following crucial sections:
- Project details
- Documentation
- Training
- Environmental and safety
- Emergency preparedness
- Systems testing
- Startup program
- Observations
- Conclusion of operational readiness review
- Recommendation for certification
4 Steps to Ensure a Smooth Project Start-Up
A project’s first day could lead to chaos if process transitions, such as new infrastructure start-up, are not planned well. As reported by Deloitte, projects risk losing 30% of their value due to ineffective operational readiness. Operational errors, disorganization, and an underprepared workforce result in value loss and project underperformance.
To ensure operational readiness and a hassle-free project start-up, follow these key steps:
- Define jobs and recruit the right people.
Human factor is essential to operational readiness. It is critical to properly define the job roles necessary for ensuring a smooth “day one” of operations. With key operations success factors in mind, it is then essential to recruit the people who have relevant expertise and identify training needs for them to manage the start-up well. - Involve all concerned departments.
When conducting an operational readiness assessment, always consult the departments affected by the project. Operational readiness reviews should include representatives from engineering, maintenance, accounting, and human resources, as they can help verify conformance for concerns in construction quality, facilities preparedness, financials, and training competency. Risk throughout the project lifecycle decreases if all concerns are identified and resolved prior to start-up. - Ensure effective information dissemination.
Capture relevant information throughout the planning phase and ensure that they are disseminated to those who will manage the start-up. Their ability to adapt to unforeseen events will depend on how much information they have about the project. Equip them with an accessible and organized database that contains information on real-time system performance, design plans, permits, and contact numbers. - Conduct testing and commissioning.
Testing and commissioning are vital steps in operational readiness as they verify if the assets or processes have achieved performance goals before full-fledged operations. With the help of operational readiness checklists,inspectors can help improve the integrity of the system by identifying areas that need fine-tuning.
Efficient Operational Readiness Processes With SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor)
Why SafetyCulture?
Operational readiness reviews are key to ensuring that operation start-ups or restarts adhere to plans the best way possible. With SafetyCulture, a world-class template builder and mobile app, operations project managers can utilize operational readiness checklists that can help them achieve success during opening day. With the SafetyCulture mobile app, you can:
- Build digital operational readiness checklists that allow other managers to conduct assessments anytime, anywhere with their mobile devices
- Attach and annotate photos as supporting documents during inspections
- Immediately identify red flags during inspections and assign corrective actions to process owners
- Easily track the status of operational readiness review timelines and actions
- Integrate with third-party collaboration apps to facilitate a convenient review process and ensure precise operational readiness checklists
- Automate workflows to trigger push notifications for deadlines
- Sign off operational readiness checklist with electronic signatures
Featured Operational Readiness Checklists
Facilities Reopening Readiness Checklist
This checklist can be used by facility managers to perform facilities readiness assessments for reopening after a lockdown. It can help ensure that the facilities system are functional and policies are up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safe return of employees and customers.
Audit Checklist for Operations
This operational audit checklist can be used to inspect business processes and branch facilities when opening or reopening an enterprise. It enumerates all areas that need comprehensive checking in order to avoid missing any essential items and is also easily customizable according to a business's needs.
SafetyCulture Content Specialist
Jona Tarlengco
