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.
Diversity & Inclusion
Science & Technology Partnerships & Outreach circulated an article on inclusive pronouns. The use of this introduction is growing, and pronouns are appearing in email signatures, conference registration, profiles, and directories.
A video was shared that delivered an important message to bystanders — we all have the power to shape the culture. The film encourages ending harassment and standing up for one another. Julie Nuter (HRS) added that Argonne National Laboratory is the only laboratory to join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to prevent and end sexual harassment.
Organizational Change Management
Change management is the practice of applying a structured approach for transitioning an organization from a current state to a future state to achieve expected benefits. Michael Rabbit (BIS) discussed the three tiers organizational change management provides: inform, consult, and lead. Training programs are being developed. Norah Blackaller (HRS) will join the team on Monday, July 15, 2019, as the organizational change management partner.
Integrating Design & Safety Reviews at the APS
George Srajer (PSC) provided an update on integrated design and safety reviews at the APS, which were implemented as of June 1, 2019. The Photon Sciences (PSC) Safety Committee Working Group identified twelve PSC standing safety committees and were able to assess and pare down to five committees and one subcommittee (each committee having independent charters and memberships). Srajer shared a design modification screening for consequence rating based on a credible likelihood of a design failure consequence. The first commissioning review took place on July 10, 2019. Gail Stine (ESHQ) complimented the approach and believes the lab would benefit from this being a site-wide approach.
Hazardous Work Registry
Drum outloads will be removed from the Alpha Gamma Hot Cell Facility this week. The process will take two to three weeks.
The AMORE commissioning will be pushed back until August due to delivery delays. The Mo-99 generator is required for the commissioning plan.
Roundtable
- The All-Hands Meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. The core value behaviors will be rolled out. Leslie Krohn (CPA) encouraged the team to join at satellite locations.
- Argonne’s Leadership Institute will have a new director starting on Monday, July 29, 2019. An official announcement will be distributed to all employees.
- Gail Stine reported that electrical safety needs to be in the forefront as two incidents at other labs have occurred within the week. We need to ensure our procedures and processes are in place.
- Karen Hellman (IS) complimented the quick response by many (Emergency Operations Center team, summer students, hotel guests, drivers/riggers, electrical contractors, Communications and Public Affairs staff, procurement specialists, off-shift maintenance foreman and mechanics, and Building Maintenance mechanics, foreman, lineman, and engineers) after Sunday’s power outage at the Argonne Guest House. The U.S. Department of Energy was pleased with Argonne’s quick response and excellent communication.
- A Work Planning and Control independent assessment will be conducted Sept. 9-13, 2019. An assessment team of seven will focus on specific divisions and evaluate the adoption, sustainment, effectiveness of the program and processes, and its impact on our safety culture.
- Kim Sawyer (OPS) praised Rock Aker (DOE) on his leadership while stepping in as Argonne’s site office manager as Joanna Livengood (DOE) was out on temporary assignment.