The Challenge

Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) engaged Propel Solutions to assist in conducting a review of Water Services Department processes to identify opportunities for operational improvements. Propel is an implementation-focused firm that is uniquely specialized in developing self-sustaining processes and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The Water Department in the Regional District has experienced rapid changes over the past decade with the introduction of new tools, systems and processes. Propel Solutions provided assistance in reviewing legacy processes that have not evolved through the changes and that CVRD was seeking to modernize. The purpose of this initiative was to conduct a through as-is analysis from which we can then design sustainable solutions. This engagement included mapping of key processes, gathering and analyzing financial/operating data, observing Water Operators out in the field, developing Operating Profiles with key managers as well as examining current Management Toolkit. Finally, an extensive list of Opportunities was gathered throughout the project and prioritized by area.

The Objective

  • Conducting a review of legacy processes to identify areas for process improvements. Three main processes were reviewed: Preventative Maintenance, Water Sampling and Work Order Creation. The process mapping and process critique sessions were instrumental in identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for making the processes to become effective and scalable.
  • Identifying Key Performance Indicators to measure the results of essential processes and implementing improvements to support teamwork. Propel analysed schedule attainment, speed, quality and productivity and the impact of these KPIs on capacity.
  • Prioritizing opportunities and recommendations for next steps. The project team identified that developing a robust Predictive Maintenance Program presents the biggest opportunity for improvement. Propel also recommended an introduction of a formal Inventory and Purchasing process as well as an overhaul of current Work Order Creation flow in order to maximize performance of the Water Department.

The Result

This as-is analysis was performed in two weeks with implementation of some quick wins such as introduction of daily huddles, developing Collector App functionality and identifying innovative data extraction methods from SCADA systems.