Managing change in normal times is hard enough. Add a pandemic on top and it leads to even more unexpected risks, costs, and unpleasant surprises. But there is a way to address changes in your business, even during emergencies: a Management of Change (MoC) process. Let’s have a look at the EHSQ challenge of managing change and how an MoC process is fundamental for your company’s response.

Change in your business, what’s in a name?

Change covers all modifications to any component, variable, or property within an existing system. It encompasses everything from starting new software, altering equipment to changing the organizational structure.

Change can be company-wide or machine-specific. No matter the size of the change, it’s important to track what and who it affects. Lack of tracking means lack of control, and without control, the outcome is unwelcome at best and outright hazardous at worst.

It’s all about control

If we ask you “did you ever implement a change that went wrong?” the answer is probably “yes”. If you don’t have an MoC system in place, change can cause a lot of damage: poor communication, lack of follow-ups, confusion, missed steps, and the list goes on.

Uncontrolled change also presents hazardous situations for your staff and operations. Luckily, if change is managed well, you can avoid risks and unexpected costs. Even though you can’t always predict the exact outcome of change, a well-functioning Management of Change process is there for you to control what happens.

What the pandemic taught us about managing change

Changes you plan and implement deliberately are one thing. But what about unexpected changes and sudden challenges? How well can your organization handle change in times of emergencies?

In the past year, all businesses have been confronted with the same sudden change: COVID-19. And it’s in such situations that a well-executed MoC process is a real asset. All the checklists and necessary steps that need to be followed provide the proper guideline and framework employees need in uncertain times.

MOC helps avoid error, miscommunication, and unwanted consequences. Additionally, a proper MOC tool facilitates instant communication between everyone involved, gaining you precious time.

Remote working & digital signoffs

A familiar-sounding example is related to the sudden obligation to work from home. Imagine that a document needs to be signed by multiple people who are not physically present on site. How can you get all their signatures without too much hassle?  The key is to implement changes quickly to make the digital signing of documents possible. A flexible MoC process is your largest asset to do this smoothly.

The pandemic taught EHS professionals to be flexible and to think outside the box. You needed to come up with solutions and changes to continue the procedures and workflows of a whole company. With the support of an MoC process, changes are implemented efficiently, guaranteeing the safety of everyone involved.

Technology saves the day

The best way to make Management of Change smoother is through software. Software allows you to centralize all necessary data and provides you with an easy communication tool. You are able to control and track any change, keep the right people informed automatically, and have a full overview of changes – past, present, and future. Above all, it creates a clear framework for everyone.

MOC is time-consuming, but software eliminates that problem. You avoid loss, mitigate risks, and care for your company’s future. Even when confronted with sudden challenges, no matter how small or large, digital Management of Change is flexible enough to cope with them.

If we piqued your curiosity, reach out to us to learn more about our Management of Change solution.