case study - benchmarking competence systems

We were asked to benchmark competence systems in a regional cluster of 17 chemical, refining, and pharmaceutical plants, subject to the COMAH regulations. 

We designed a benchmarking structure and conducted on-site/telephone interviews at all the plants to establish current systems, and technical differences between the sites.  We analysed the data to identify examples of good practice, scope for knowledge-sharing, and critical gaps in provision.

We designed and facilitated a workshop to feed back the findings, share best practice, and agree a shared competence-system framework which could accommodate legitimate differences.  We subsequently summarised the best practice as guidance notes to support the framework.

We then worked with five of the companies to develop pilot skills matrices, to build their understanding of how to tackle the most critical gaps.  We designed and ran on-site workshops with staff at all levels to define precise responsibilities and interactions between people during critical activities, assimilated these into a generic matrix for transfer to the rest of the cluster, and tested it with company specialists.

We then converted the matrices into a computer program so that plants could assess risks in their own situation – distributed it, and trained site training managers to use the technique.

More information is available on request.  Contact us for details.