Focused Optimization Event

The past few days I have been designing what I'm tentatively calling a Focused Optimization Event.  This "barrel-chasing" workshop is similar to what Shell calls their "Producing the Limit" event.  I think BP developed something similar called "Production  at the Limit" or somesuch (if anyone knows, please tell me).  

Building a common understanding of the production system

The Produce the Limit events started out at 2 full weeks (including a field visit on the middle weekend).  They were a great way not only to identify hundreds of opportunities to improve production, but also to build a common knowledge of the field and to improve teamwork. We all had a great time during these events. They were very hard work, but I think what made them fun was that we were doing real engineering 100% of the time and intensely working together--things that we didn't get to do on normal workdays.  

Hundreds of opportunities to increase production

As with many things in life, the bean counters got involved and started trimming these 'expensive' events, first down to 1 week where they were still successful with enough preparation.  Then they were shrunk down to 2-3 days and were fairly useless and not much fun.  Of course, then they were dumped entirely.  Somewhere along the way we realized that many of the opportunities found in these events were not implemented and the effort spent on realizing these gains was not easily sustainable in the organizational structure that was in place.  Happily, this laid the foundation for a whole new initiative on continuous improvement which is much better.


I have a client who has not done any events like this and so the challenge will be to hold an event that is as successful as the original and also kick-starts the changes necessary to sustain the production system optimization process.