The Operations Excellence Council provides a senior management forum focused on delivering leading-edge science, and developing a strong commitment to, and culture around, research and operational excellence throughout the laboratory. The council supports timely, transparent, and effective decision-making on operational programs. It communicates customer feedback, needs and priorities, and reviews lab performance targets and metrics.
Financial Management Get to Green update
Tim Knewitz (FMP) introduced Don McGady, Financial Management Get to Green program manager. McGady shared recent progress within the program:
- Recommendations for data access options were presented to the executive co-sponsors on June 18.
- The business intelligence comparison tool for U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reporting was deployed for testing on June 18.
- Knewitz presented the program to the Board of Governors on June 19.
Business & Information Services, Financial Management & Procurement Services, and division and directorate finance staff have been making changes and working as a team. Per Kim Sawyer (OPS), transparency is key to improving financial management.
Hazardous work registry
High-hazard elevated work was conducted by an Environmental Science contractor under a site-specific job safety plan at the Southern Great Plains atmospheric observatory to remove a non-complaint, out-of-service 21.0 meter scaffold tower. The tower was rigged by qualified tower climbers, using appropriate fall protection to remove anchor bolts. This work was completed successfully. Several site activities will be completed by high-voltage lineman.
Roundtable
- Greg Morin (OTD) provided a briefing on the Annual Lab Plan process.
- Cynthia Jenks (CSE) discussed a recent incident and pointed out the notification process. The lab might be unaware of what steps need to be conducted. Sawyer noted that we need a stop gap around 911; it’s not being used enough for unusual incidents. Is the current process working or do we need to supplement?
Mike Dunn (OPS) informed the council that the DOE Order 486.1 Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program has been added to our contract. Sawyer suggested we have an independent review team come in for implementation.