Assessment 2.

2. A.) How can continuous improvement be applied and implemented to sustainability policy to
help achieve sustainability objectives? Give two examples of the strategies you could use to
promote continuous improvement in resource efficiency throughout the life cycle of your
sustainability management.

There are many ways to improve resource efficiency that can be implemented in day to day
operations and that do not require senior management approval and capital expenditure.
Initiatives generated from the shop floor might include:
•identifying how to recycle waste material and scrap for use in the business
•establishing new practices for switching off lights or heating when not needed and
equipment that is not in use
•optimising production processes for better productivity
•identifying how to reduce down time, rework and scrap
•implementing systems to capture rainwater or to divert and reuse run off wáter
•reducing fuel consumption through driver training programs and maintaining correct tyre
pressure
•reducing transport and fuel costs by making adjustments to truck capacity and loading
techniques.

Continuos improvement can be promoted throuth posters, flyers and social media

http://sustainabilityskills.net.au/wp-
content/uploads/2011/12/Info_ImprovingResourceEfficiency.pdf

To ensure sustainability initiatives are successful, an organization needs effective procedures

that staff and others can follow to make sure everyone involved knows what they have to
do.

It can continuous improvement be applied and implemented using 5 steps

 Commitment and policy
 Planning
 Implementation
 Measurement and evaluation
 Review and improvement.

Example about a school

stage Plan Do study Act

Where School meeting school School meeting School
steps Data analysis. Implement Monitor Implement
Identify action steps implementation. revised action as
opportunities for defined in the Evaluate effect define in study
improvement. plan stage against defined stage.
Identify root desired outcome Repeat cycle.
causes. in plan stage.
 Share existing Revise action
strategies. steps, refine,
Design action and if is
steps necessary
Design an abandon
evaluation plan strategy.

The stages can be the next three and each of those have a requirements for continues improvement

 Data into knowledge: data access, readily available, assessment literacy, interpretive knowledge
and skill
 Knowledge into action: context for knowledge building and knowledge sharing, clear and
coherent systems for action design
 Action into improvement: clear and coherent systems for assessing both leading and lagging
performance measures.

Example in the manufacturing industry

A classic example of process streamlining can be found in the manufacturing industry and the reduction
of steps a worker must take to carry a widget from one location to another. Instead of requiring the
worker to move faster (which does little but impose ineffective process management and lower the
morale of the individual), the company moves the bin containing the widgets closer to the drop-off
location, saving the worker several steps and saving the company seconds per work item completed, or
seconds that get shaved off the total time it takes to manufacture one widget. While the immediate
impact of one or two seconds may not seem to equate to very much money, it adds up over time.

Finally, the team decides on a new process. Once all opportunities have been identified, the team works
together to create a new process. The new process should be communicated to everyone who is
impacted, and action steps may be taken away by certain team members who volunteer to help
integrate the new process into the company. For example, if the new process impacts another process,
the takeaway would be to work with a spokesperson for the impacted process to make the
modifications that are necessary to accommodate the new process.

7. Write a summary document of your outcomes and how you will provide feedback to key
personnel and stakeholders affected by and involved in this project.

Documenting the outcomes of sustainability initiatives is a crucial part of the communication

improvement cycle. The analysis of data collected will enable the organization to assess policy
performance based on qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Outcomes can be documented in specific sustainability reports, in financial reports and annul
report that includes triple bottom line reporting, a shareholders report, or a report for an
external body such as a regulatory authority.

Senior manager and shareholders will receive regular formal reports, but other also stakeholders need
to know how the organization is progressing towards achieving its environmental targets. Regular
updates and successful achievement of targets can be used to provide encouragement and support to
maintain the momentum and commitment of all involved. Feedback can also identify target that have
not been met, areas of weakness and risk, thus showing where improvements need to be made.

Methods to provide feedback

 Newsletters
 Memos, emails and letters
 Website- intranet
 Meetings
 Presentations
 Visual methods