Fire and rescue service (SDIS 18) customer reference: Managing a dynamic establishment project
SDIS 18 (Fire & Rescue service in the Cher department), is one of a hundred or so fire and rescue service in France responsible for risk prevention and management, as well as public safety. With strong ambitions, it has embarked on a structured, innovative approach to make its establishment project a living, dynamic reference.
Discover, through the testimonies of Colonel Bruneau, Cher Departmental Director and Chief of the Cher Fire Brigade, and Fabrice Villotte, Head of Steering and Management Controller, how the integration of the IDhall tool, combined with rigorous governance, has made it possible to revitalize and structure the SDIS 18 establishment project.
Steering by the Deming wheel
SDIS 18’s management of strategic initiatives is based on a proven method: the Deming wheel, also known as the PDCA method. This structured methodological framework is built around four key stages: Plan, Do, Check and Act. It ensures continuous improvement by structuring objectives and regularly reassessing priorities to better adapt to the organization’s needs.
All SDIS objectives go through the PDCA filter. This enables us to structure our actions and constantly reassess our priorities.
As soon as Colonel Bruneau joined the organization, a clear objective emerged: to make the facility project a truly dynamic tool, capable of centralizing initiatives, monitoring their progress and ensuring their alignment with strategic objectives.
According to Colonel Bruneau and Fabrice Villotte, PDCA is not simply a method, but a way of structuring thinking and instilling a dynamic of continuous improvement. This approach requires a particular state of mind, based on questioning, regular evaluation of objectives and constant adaptation.
The Deming wheel is a way of structuring our thinking. It’s not just knowledge, it’s a way of being, a discipline that encourages us to re-evaluate our priorities and move forward in a coherent way.
However, to apply this method effectively and see it through to the end, it is essential to rely on a suitable tool. Previously, initiatives were tracked using scattered Excel files, which proved insufficient to meet the requirements of structured, truly dynamic management of the establishment’s project. This dispersed management approach made it difficult to track priorities and hampered the smooth, consistent implementation of key PDCA stages.
The aim was to go beyond the constraints of traditional tools and introduce a system capable of effectively structuring, animating and energizing initiatives, while ensuring fluid collaboration and total transparency within the teams.
I had the opportunity to use the IDhall platform when working at SDIS 58, where I had already seen how effective it was at structuring and tracking initiatives. It seemed obvious to me that this tool would be perfectly suited to support our PDCA-based management approach.
A decidedly dynamic establishment project thanks to IDhall
The SDIS 18 establishment project is a strategic plan that articulates all the initiatives and objectives required to meet the challenges of risk prevention and management. By following up on inspection recommendations, assessing vulnerabilities and regularly revising structuring documents, it provides a clear vision to guide actions and enhance the department’s efficiency.
For such a project to remain relevant and operational, it is essential to guarantee a constant dynamic. This implies rigorous monitoring of actions, a capacity for continuous adaptation and regular updating of priorities.
The dynamic establishment project is the outcome of all our initiatives. It is a living document, regularly updated through biannual reviews.
To ensure that the establishment project is fully operational, each initiative is set within a structured framework, rigorously monitored through the PDCA stages, and reviewed at regular strategic milestones. The IDhall tool plays a key role in this process, centralizing information, ensuring precise monitoring of progress towards objectives, and providing a shared vision for all teams.
IDhall enables us to categorize initiatives according to priority and impact. This facilitates our project reviews, where we can quickly isolate cross-functional initiatives or urgent actions.
Reviews are an essential part of the process, enabling priorities to be adjusted, progress to be measured, and new initiatives to be integrated as a result of inspection recommendations or emerging needs.
Every six months, we hold a progress review where each initiative is analyzed, adjusted if necessary, or closed when completed. This ensures that nothing is overlooked, and that our establishment project remains relevant.
In addition to organizing strategic initiatives, this dynamic establishment project also strengthens transparency and collaboration between teams. Thanks to IDhall, every member can easily access information, monitor the status of priorities and actively contribute to the achievement of objectives.
Transparency is essential. With IDhall, everyone knows what’s going on, what’s a priority, and where we are in terms of our objectives. It’s a tool that enhances teamwork while guaranteeing precise follow-up.
Governance and leadership: the foundations of success
The transformation of the SDIS 18 establishment project into a dynamic tool relies on strong governance and rigorous leadership. Colonel Bruneau has played a key role since the tool’s launch at the end of 2022, providing the impulse for a collective dynamic. His involvement made it possible to structure management using the PDCA method and the IDhall tool.
To successfully implement a steering policy, management involvement is essential. Without strong support, none of this could work.
Collaboration with Fabrice Villotte, Steering Manager, has also played a central role. As the pivot between managers and top management, he guides employees in the use of the tool and in the adoption of good management practices.
My role is to make sure that managers use IDhall effectively. This involves training and regular reminders, as well as personalized support to help them make the most of the tool.
Well thought-out animation has made it possible to establish routines that are essential to effective project management. Weekly or fortnightly notifications remind teams to update their initiatives, while half-yearly reviews provide key moments for analyzing progress, adjusting priorities and celebrating successes.
The platform’s notifications maintain a positive dynamic. They ensure that everyone keeps their priorities in mind and actively contributes to the company’s project.
But animation is not limited to monitoring initiatives. It also aims to enhance the value of the work carried out and reinforce the commitment of the teams.
We publish a biannual brochure highlighting the progress made on the establishment’s project. This shows the concrete results of everyone’s work and motivates the teams.
By combining committed governance, collaborative animation and appropriate tools, SDIS 18 has built a solid foundation for effective, long-term management. This approach fosters greater cohesion within teams, where each member understands his or her role and contribution to the collective project.
IDhall is not just a project management tool, it’s an essential lever for structuring and integrating a genuine management policy. Today, we can no longer be satisfied with Excel to carry out complex processes such as PDCA or ISO 9001. IDhall has established itself as an integrated tool at the heart of our processes, and is becoming a key factor in the success of our organization.
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