Overview: The SEM Continuous Improvement Cycle (SCIC) is the backbone of our curriculum, guiding participants through their SEM Journey.

Reasoning: SCIC origins are rooted in Plan/Do/Check/Act (PDCA), a framework widely employed in continuous improvement efforts. However, in our experience, the PDCA cycle falls short when talking about broader organizational change. As such, we have augmented the PDCA to explicitly include elements that help ensure a CI initiative results in meaningful and sustained organizational change.

Guidance/Application: SCIC serves as the framework for our SEM program, guiding participants through their SEM journey. We feature it in every workshop, with each workshop diving deeper into each of the different elements.

These are the steps of the SEM Continuous Improvement Cycle, with “Involve the Right/More People” at the center connected to each step of the cycle:

• Connect with Purpose: Why is this work important to you personally and to the organization? Engage stakeholders by aligning SEM goals with personal and organizational values.
• Explore & Prioritize (energy-saving opportunities): Facilitate facility-wide or sub-system focused Treasure Hunts to identify and prioritize key energy-saving projects.
• Implement Projects: With priorities identified, it’s time for the rubber to meet the road and to start making the changes that will result in actual energy savings. Utilize project management tools to ensure the work stays on track and the responsible parties have the support they need to be successful.
• Measure Results & Adjust as needed: Collect data and monitor implemented projects to track progress and make necessary adjustments if optimal savings are not being achieved.
• Ensure Persistence: Develop protocols to regularly monitor and maintain energy savings. Are new SOPs developed? Are Planned Maintenance protocols put into place? Are employees trained on the changes expected of them? It boils down to this key question: Will this project and its savings outlive your whole team’s time at the facility?
• Celebrate Successes: When you achieve savings, that is cause for celebration! That might simply be a high-five or shout-out to key personnel at All-Hands meetings, in newsletters, and/or other communication channels employees pay attention to. When larger goals are attained, that might be worth organizing larger recognition events to celebrate the team’s achievements.
• Reconnect with Purpose and continue the cycle anew: Schedule periodic reviews to realign goals and keep momentum.