Page 23 - Suncor 360 - September 2014 - English

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execution and operation. If every person at practice to learn new behaviours.or

every step along the way mindfully applies unlearn old ones. We can’t simply proclaim
these ive behaviours, then we’ll do the that ‘Thou shalt honour the ive

right thing, the right way, every time.no commandments of operational discipline’
matter how novel the situation.
and expect that it will stick.

That means we can work effectively with We need to set the example. We need to

hundreds of suppliers and contractors from recognize and reinforce operational
all over the country and around the world. discipline when we see it – and call it out

We can effectively plan and execute our when it’s lacking. We need to identify
work whether we do that work ourselves champions who are working in

or enlist a third party. We can adapt and operationally disciplined ways and leverage
Mike MacSween
perform construction work whether it’s their successes.

best done on site or at one of the many
changing circumstances. They don’t use a modular construction yards we use.
Most important, we need to ensure people
questioning attitude to surface problems. Is understand the why behind operational

the road icy today? Is there more trafic than In other words, it gives us the adaptability discipline. This often involves a hard look at

usual? Is that truck driver distracted by the we need to get the very best outcomes from lessons learned. In Major Projects, we look
new road construction? Are the conditions our established processes and procedures.
at past incidents and ask, ‘What

safe for me to proceed? They don’t expect operational discipline behaviours were
accountability (for example, making eye Q: What beneits of operational lacking? What could have been done in
discipline are you seeing?
contact with drivers to ensure they’ve been earlier stages and in the ield?’ We also
seen and that vehicles have stopped). They A: Although we’ve really just begun the look at projects that went really well and
operational discipline journey, we’re already
just blindly step into the intersection, often ask, ‘What behaviours led to success?’ I
blindly following others doing the same – seeing beneits.
believe circumstances, environment and

and assume that ‘process and procedure’ intentionality create the result. It’s never
alone will protect them.
In projects like Fort Hills, for example, just a matter of luck.
we’re effectively collaborating to integrate

Operational discipline isn’t about being work from engineering irms here at home I simply can’t overstate the importance of
and abroad.
robotic. Quite the opposite, actually. It awareness. Operational discipline begins
requires you to be constantly aware and with a mindset, but it only works if you
And better collaboration among the teams
thinking so you can respond appropriately involved in project development, execution understand why all ive behaviours exist
to changing circumstances and manage the and then apply them appropriately to
and operations is helping us identify which
risks in front of you. Most importantly, other projects ‘should’ go ahead and which changing circumstances and conditions.
doing the right things, the right way, every
are ‘ready’ to go ahead.
time requires us to use all ive operational
discipline behaviours. That’s how we’ll get
In what we do, risks are always present.
the most value.
Operational discipline is the pathway to

Q: How does operational discipline understanding those risks and uncovering
the best ways to manage them. When
impact how we plan and execute
The operational
our projects?
people work with heightened awareness
and openly share their ideas and concerns, discipline behaviours
A: When you’re dealing with the
we not only improve our risk proile but we
complexities of a multi-stage mega-project see better productivity, results, more Seek knowledge and understanding
involving thousands of people and billions
cohesive teams and a much safer workplace.
of dollars, the importance of applying the It’s a colossal opportunity for all of us.
Adhere to procedures
ive behaviours of operational discipline is
Use a questioning attitude to
critical. Seeking knowledge and Q: How have you been introducing surface problems
understanding, adhering to procedures,
operational discipline in Major Expect accountability
using a questioning attitude to surface Projects? What can others learn
problems, expecting accountability,
from your experience?
Collaborate
collaborating – these are critical from the A: Operational discipline is all about the
earliest stages of planning right through to
right behaviours, and it takes time and