The Operational Excellence programme is leading work to make the University’s processes more efficient, with the aim of reducing bureaucracy, freeing-up time and making it easier to access the services that students and staff rely on. Over the last year, workshops have reviewed and improved areas as diverse as new programme validation, website maintenance and the payment of casual staff.

With a full programme team now in place, activity will be increasing across the University throughout the autumn term. The team are regularly receiving proposals for new workshops to compliment the key strands that are already established. Alongside these, they will be organising a series of lunchtime training sessions that will introduce staff to different aspects of continuous improvement. More details about these events will be published shortly.

The programme’s Groupsite includes information about the objectives of this work, an outline of the techniques used and profiles of the team. A priority for the programme over the coming year will be measuring the benefits as a result of the improved processes.

This month the team are particularly keen to hear from staff who have existing experience of process improvement – either from within the institution or in previous workplaces. So, if you’re experienced in Six Sigma, Lean or other techniques, please contact the programme office. Even if you don’t have time to train as workshop facilitator, you may be able to contribute to the work in another way.

The programme’s new website can be found at www.southampton.ac.uk/excellence.

You can email the programme office at excellence@southampton.ac.uk.

You can also follow the team on Twitter, @UoS_Excellence, where they will be posting information from around the University and best practice from across the sector.