Improving safety, quality and efficiency through the management of emerging processes: The TenarisDalmine experience

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this contribution is to describe a new complexity‐science‐based approach for improving safety, quality and efficiency and the way it was implemented by TenarisDalmine.

Design/methodology/approach

This methodology is called “a safety‐building community”. It consists of a safety‐behaviour social self‐construction process management method that makes it possible to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of on‐the‐job accidents and meet the company's commitment to safety.

Findings

This new approach to spontaneous‐organisation management has generated remarkable effects. Improved spontaneous organisation promises to boost production quality and efficiency, two aspects which had fallen into a major slump when spontaneous organisation was not working properly.

Originality/value

The paper examines through TenarisDalmine's experience a method that enabled the company to go beyond traditional behavioural approaches and increase the workers' commitment to safety, sharing the common zero‐accident goal.

Citation

Bonometti, P. (2012), "Improving safety, quality and efficiency through the management of emerging processes: The TenarisDalmine experience", The Learning Organization, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 299-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696471211226662