The essence of a society is found within its culture. This culture is deeply engrained within each individual, and cannot be changed by merely manipulating superficial policies & procedures. When change is needed, it is the leaders of a society who must pioneer changes. Leaders will determine the morale of their people, and it is the leaders who will ultimately determine a society’s attitude toward problem solving.
As with any industry, pharmaceutical companies must regularly deal with a vast array of problems. The culture of each particular company is evident in the approaches that are employed when faced with problem. A company can choose to either eliminate the problem, or they can choose to live with it.
A company with a Quality minded leaders will provide a work environment for the employees to seek long term solutions for problems as they arise. This type of company will thrive as they continue to be able to eliminate obstacles, rather than merely “walk around” them. Leaders of such companies praise employees for utilizing their skills and experiences to create solutions. The culture of this type of company is such that employees take pride in their work and celebrate success alongside management. In turn the entire organization seeks to continuously eliminate obstacles that may hinder the success of the company in any way.
On the other hand, a company may also choose to employ short term solutions to cover up problems that they are faced with. Although the issues at hand may be hidden for some time, they will inevitably return and have to be dealt with again. Such companies tend to have problems not only with Deviation Management and Corrective and Preventative Action Systems, but also with operations efficiency. When root causes are not determined and dealt with appropriately, the entire organization will suffer and deteriorate from the bottom, up. This type of culture is a reflection of a management system that wishes only to “get by,” rather than become a truly successful organization. Instigating changes disrupts the nature of these companies, as they have become complacent in their short term solutions.
A company’s success is a direct reflection of their attitude towards solving problems. Although short term solutions may work for a period of time, root problems are never solved. Long term success is enjoyed by companies whose management welcome changes that can improve and provide opportunities for advancement. It is the responsibility of leaders in upper management positions to instill this acceptance for change, rather than a tolerance for deviation.
Now, can you tell us how you would handle deviations/non-conformances at your organization?