For several decades, managers of high-risk industries have developed project management methods based on REX (return on experience) in order to learn from their mistakes and to progress in the field of industrial risk management.
At Gesip, we believe that sharing knowledge and experience in the field is an invaluable asset for improving industrial safety. We are therefore working to promote REX at both site and industry level.
The definition and the different methods of Feedback
Different motivations justify these practices. First of all, the need for REX stems from the engineers' need to justify the discrepancies between theoretical data and the on-site experimentation process. They can thus improve their work by understanding these differences in order to improve quality.
In terms of safety, the objective of manufacturers is to produce with a zero accident rate. To achieve this, technical, organizational and human resources must be implemented. Their lessons are often much more complex to analyze.
There are 3 types of REX and 3 different levels at which it can be exercised. Some information is necessary.
The different forms of feedback management
There is no single definition of REX. Its practice varies according to the sectors of activity and the dynamics of its leaders. There are 3 types of REX:
- The event-based feedback It identifies the occurrence of an isolated event, regardless of its severity, in order to avoid its repetition. It is widely used in the industrial world;
- The REX on weak signals This type of feedback is very difficult to implement and requires specialized skills. It aims to anticipate the occurrence of serious events;
- The positive feedback aims at detecting and reinforcing good practices rather than learning from malfunctions or accidents.
Read also: Crisis management training in the face of an industrial incident
The different methods of exercising Feedback
Feedback involves the company at all levels, from the operator to the branch manager. The feedback process can thus be carried out at several levels.
- The REX site The quality discrepancies observed must be reported by the field employees. The tool used can be analysis forms or statistics on the occurrence of deviations;
- The REX company It requires a dedicated team, an analysis procedure and sharing methods;
- The REX at the level of the professional branch is more difficult to implement.
The ability and commitment of management to get involved in the REX are the key factors for its success. key factors for its success. They must also set up a structured, adapted and formalized organization in the field. This must be equipped with effective tools for analyzing causes and must involve the operators on site as much as possible. In addition, beyond the technical aspect, the REX must concern more psychological factors such as communication and team behavior.
The lack of momentum and the lack of dedicated resources are, on the other hand, the real obstacles that allow a company to progress in terms of risk management. The lack of training of employees in the methods of REX analysis is also a negative factor in quality improvement, as is the absence of a climate of trust that prevents teams from reporting errors.
Gesip's involvement in improving REX in industrial practice
A community of industrialists who works for the improvement of safety
Risk control is achieved through knowledge of events and sharing of experiences. This is the raison d'être of Gesip, whose role is to reinforce industrial safety by transmitting knowledge through training and expertise. We work in the field of toxic risk control, fire, explosion and crisis management. Our vocation is to contribute to improving safety performance and to promote a strong HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) culture. In this respect, Gesip offers services, training and consulting for industrial and logistics sites.
For example, Gesip was involved in the following projects experience feedback after the Lubrizol accident accident, with an important analysis work aiming at accompanying the industrialists so that they appropriate these new knowledge but also the administration to make evolve the regulatory texts. Gesip is always positioned on a technical level. We have, in particular, been asked to review these texts.
Become a member for a better sharing of feedback data
The purpose of the meetings with Gesip members is to share the experiences of the manufacturers. Whether it be quarterly meetings or technical plenary sessions, being a member of this companybeing a member of this company allows you to join a community of companies of companies united around the same concern: the prevention and control of industrial risks.
Members benefit from the experience, expertise, and information and can ask the teams for personalized expertise. Gesip members are also invited to join the work of technical committees and meetings between experts and manufacturers to benefit from their experience and to be alerted to current events.