Waste water Treatment – Solutions with respect to violation of EPA norms

The ChallengeFor decades, the Midland Food Processing Co. has been at the heart of this City’s economy. However, over the last few years, the company has been faced with declining quality of service stemming from a lack of forward-thinking from management. This has resulted in violation of EPA guidelines in the realm of wastewater discharge norms. The plant faces imminent threat of closure due to noncompliance issues with regards to EPA norms on waste water discharges

AGENDA

SYSTEMIC

ORGANIZATIONAL

REGULATORY

Company Background

Founded in 1950

Backbone of Midland’s growing economy

Regulatory ChallengesPeak wastewater flows from food processing facility exceeds EPA regulations

Exceedances are numerous, but minor

Quarterly Monthly violations

So what?

Fines

Environmental Impact

Public Perception

Plant closure

SystemicChallenges

Bridging the gap

Management: Uninvolved in operations

WWTP Operations: Internally-focused

So what?

Diminished performance

Inefficiencies

Less revenue

OrganizationalChallenges

Improving company-wide culture, values and strategy.

Unfocused company goals

Need to redefine culture, mission and vision

So what?

Decision-making

Clear roles and responsibilities

Company morale

Systemic Solutions

Changes to the organization will improve the following areas and collective system

Lines of Communication

Formal

Informal

Processes

Education and Training

Implementation Plan

Systemic Solutions

Staff Responsibilities

Management Engagement

Plant visits

Daily reports from staff

Open-door policy

Frontline personnel involvement

Staff Meetings

Professional Certification

Organizational Challenges

Changes to the organization will require a re-defined company culture

The current culture has depleted substantially

The culture lacks employee investment

Company philosophy will need to be re-defined

New Mission and Vision Statements will need to be adopted

Organizational Challenges

Implementation of a new company philosophy will supplement the ongoing changes

Company Philosophy

Define the Business

Set Goals

Ethical Standards

Decision Making Standards

Performance Measures

Ownership & Urgency

Organizational Challenges

Adoption of a new Vision Statement

Vision Statement

Define the organization's objective

Provide foresight

Motivate employees

Organizational Challenges

Adoption of a new Mission Statement

Mission Statement

Define the organization's purpose

Primary goals

How do we plan on doing so

Organizational Challenges

Lack of organization-wide culture of unity and common mission in diversity.

Infrequent City involvement in wastewater treatment operations and measurement monitoring.

Employees are to be educated on the importance of working together with others within the organization to accomplish its mission.

Coordinate with the City to have a resident City Inspector.

Organizational Challenges

Relationship with City personnel

Employing external/independent services

More frequent meetings with City personnel

Utilize independent laboratory services

Organizational Challenges

Undefined and unclear roles and responsibilities

Knowledge gap

Knowledge drain due to possibly ageing workforce

• HR to conduct desk audit of all positions to determine current duties and responsibilities.

• Knowledge transfer initiatives like mentoring and on the job training must be encouraged.

Technical Solutions

Diverting peak wastewater flows to city treatment plant

Increasing the quota of wastewater treated by the city’s facilities

Complete diversion of all wastewater to city’s treatment facilities

Engaging external contractors and consultants to handle wastewater operations

Technical Solutions

HYBRID SOLUTION

External Focus

External Consultant

Organizational Culture

External Perspective Better Standards & technical know

how

Should Match!

Partnership

• There should be a sense of partnership between the city council and the plant management.

• It requires both parties to come together to solve the problem. Working in isolation is not a solution.

• Endeavoring for a win-win situation

• Coordinating allocation of resources

• Collective action- Bringing together all stakeholders

Financial and Capital Plan

Capital requirements for the implementation of the company changes

Additional Operational Costs incurred include the following:

Newsletter

Specialized Training

Documentation procedures

Incentives

Hiring

Testing Lab

Consultants

Financial and Capital Plan• The Finances and Capital has to be shared by the city

and the plant

• The Capital can be funded by bonds ,rate increases and from reserves

• While making financial plans the nature of the business must be understood thoroughly. i.e. the business has a high competition and low margins.

• The reluctance of some stakeholders that would not want the city utility to invest capital to aid a private company must be acknowledged and assuaged

Implementation Timeline

Immediate Implementation

Communication Plan

Company Philosophy

Gradual Implementation

Hiring / Incentives

Third-Party Consultant

Operational

Final Thoughts

Midland Food Company Organizational Change

Initiation

Engagement

Integration

Plan, Do, Check, Act Cycle Tailored Adaptation

Reaching the collective definition of success

References1. Deming, W. Edwards; “Out of the crisis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology” Center for advanced engineering study, Cambridge, MA

510 1986.

2. Lawton, Barbara; “Authentic Leadership”; EMEN 5050; Lesson 13; Slide 2 ; Colorado University, Boulder; Fall 2015.S