A checklist is often the simplest and most effective tool organizations can use to reduce errors, mitigate risk, increase efficiency, and enable confidence. In this article, we’re talking about two types: read-do checklists and do-confirm checklists. Put simply, checklists are reference lists for decision-making or taking action.
Unfortunately, checklists are undervalued in most organizations. They’re also met with resistance since they often require cross-functional involvement where one department has a set list of expectations for other departments.
So why make a checklist? What constitutes a good checklist? What’s the difference between read-do and do-confirm? We’ll address this below.
Do-confirm: Do-confirm checklists are typically used after an action is completed. They serve as an aid to your memory to make sure nothing is missed during a process. They help ensure accuracy and act as a reminder of what needs to be done. For example, this might be a list of items to check when receiving materials in the warehouse. The goal is to make sure nothing is overlooked.
Read-do: Read-do checklists are less common and are used before or during a task. These checklists are useful for unfamiliar tasks or in high-risk situations. For example, this would be used during a security investigation or overhauling an engine. It helps throughout a process to ensure you don’t miss anything that could cause problems later. Think of it like reading a recipe.
1. Avoiding Errors: Checklists help prevent errors when starting a process. Examples include a surgeon’s pre-surgery preparation process, a pilot preparing for takeoff, and IT configuration.
2. Mitigating Risk: Checklists help mitigate potential risks that could occur by ensuring nothing is missed during a process. Examples include monitoring a patient’s vital signs, IT troubleshooting, and safety protocols during a construction build out.
3. Increasing Efficiency: Checklists enable people to work more efficiently to save time and other resources. Examples include pilot and co-pilot pre-flight activities, using an IT cross-application, and cross-contractor activity.
4. Enabling Confidence: Checklists help teams know a task has been done correctly and it’s safe to move to the next step in the process. The plane can take off, the surgery can begin, and the product can be sent to market.
Checklists should be simple (with 5-9 major points). They should be easy to understand, reusable, and updated with input from the people using them. A checklist is not intended to replace training or task knowledge. It’s an aid to make sure everything is accounted for. When considering where a checklist might be most useful, identify areas of high risk and high complexity that require precision with less time to react and fewer people involved.
At Trenegy, we help organizations position themselves to become more efficient and effective. To chat more about how we can help, email us at info@trenegy.com.
