IMPQI272 – Plan and agree targets for improvement in food operations

Overview 

This standard is about the skills and knowledge needed for you to plan and agree targets for improvement to support your organisation's drive to improve food operations. This is important in increasing productivity and success of manufacture, processing and supply within the food supply chain. Planning and meaningful target setting is important to an improvement strategy and in a performance driven culture.

You will need to show and understand how you take into account the requirements of your organisation’s improvement strategy. You will need to comply with your company policy for planning and agreeing targets and take responsibility for your actions. It involves developing plans for targets, smart target setting and ensuring that targets are agreed. You will also need to provide and receive feedback on your contribution to the target setting process.

This standard is for you if your role requires you to plan and agree targets for improvement in food or drink operations including manufacturing, processing, packing or supply chain activities. You may have responsibilities for aspects of organisational improvement in a team leadership or management role.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

Scope the area where targets need to be developed

  1. identify the requirements of the improvement strategy and plan
  2. collate information and seek advice about the area where targets are intended in accordance with procedures
  3. confirm current performance outcomes and achievement of any existing targets in accordance with the improvement plan
  4. evaluate the planning and target setting needs for the area in consultation with the relevant personnel

Plan for target setting

  1. devise plans for area targets in accordance with the improvement plan
  2. consult with relevant personnel about the objectiveness of target setting, aligned with improvement plans and any other needs
  3. present information in ways that promote understanding with relevant personnel
  4. develop target setting plans in accordance with procedures

Agree improvement targets

  1. report and present your plans for improvement targets to the relevant personnel
  2. agree improvement targets with relevant personnel
  3. finalise smart targets in response to feedback and evaluation from relevant personnel

Obtain and provide feedback about your contribution to target setting and agreement

  1. seek feedback on the value of your contribution to target setting from relevant personnel
  2. check current progress towards the achievement of targets and performance indicators in accordance with procedures
  3. provide feedback on your contribution to target setting to the relevant personnel

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand

  1. your organisation's improvement vision, strategy, objectives and the reasons for improvement
  2. effective planning techniques
  3. theory and application of the change/performance curve
  4. the importance of contingency planning and how to do so effectively
  5. how to make critical decisions
  6. how to establish current performance status of processes and improvement programmes
  7. stakeholder and line management expectations and how they influence the process of target setting
  8. how to evaluate planning information and devise plans for targets
  9. how to consult effectively with colleagues in setting and agreeing targets
  10. the formal and informal communication channels used
  11. how to present and finalise information for the agreement of targets
  12. what the arrangements are for the formal agreement of targets in your organisation
  13. your organisations current position in the sector compared with its main competitors, in respect of key performance targets
  14. how to receive and provide feedback in respect of your contribution to target setting activities

Keywords: Food; Operations; Manufacturing; Excellence; Improvement; Organisational; Management; Plan; Targets