b. Performance Analysis and Review
Performance is reviewed daily, weekly, monthly,quarterly, and annually at NPPC. We have a number
of different meetings designed to review different metrics that are tracked with different frequencies. For example, our Daily and Weekly Operating Reviews mostly occur in our manufacturing facilities. There, we review data on safety, quality, production, and waste/scrap. In our monthly sales reviews, we look at performance on a wide variety of operational, financial and market metrics. Quarterly, Pillar champions participate in reviews of our performance against the
objectives in the Blueprint. In all cases, these meetings involve reviewing levels and trends in data, analyzing
the causes of both good and poor performance, and changing action plans and strategies when needed to
improve or maintain performance. Employees have been taught a number of different analysis models and
techniques such as DMAIC (Six Sigma), SPC, comparative cause analysis, and root cause analysis.
By tracking some metrics daily, we are able to quickly detect if our action plans are having the desired
impact and make further adjustments when necessary. We also supplement the statistical data with softer
data gathered via observation and questioning. For example, we get daily data from our largest customers
because we are in contact with them daily. This way we can detect problems or issues early rather than waiting
for a report to show a declining trend in some measure of customer satisfaction.