Operations Q&A: Efficiency vs. Effectiveness - Modern Distribution Management

Operations Q&A: Efficiency vs. Effectiveness

Should you sacrifice speed for accuracy?
LeeSchwartz

Question: Must you choose between being efficient or being effective?

Answer: Let's begin outside of the warehouse or factory. Think of a track and field sprinter. They have one goal in mind: Get to the finish line as quickly as possible. Now think of a heart surgeon. They must walk a fine line between speed and outcome. The heart can only be on the heart machine for so long, yet one slip and the patient’s life is in jeopardy.

The heart surgeon is balancing efficiency with effectiveness. In operations the two are also inseparable, joined at the hip. Consult your dictionary and you’ll see the following definitions:

  • Efficiency – accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort
  • Effectiveness – adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result

Or as world renowned management consultant Peter Drucker put it, effective is doing the right thing, while efficient is doing things right.

Bottom Line: No matter what the task, isn’t the goal to perform the activity as quickly and accurately as possible? Whether it is the manufacture of the widget or the shipping of an order, the faster the task is completed, the less it costs. Lower costs translate to greater profitability. And more profits could mean growth, financial stability or more satisfaction from your workforce as a result of bonuses or increased salaries.

But there is a balance to all this. Does doing the work at top speed mean that the task was done correctly, that you achieved the desired results? No. Order pickers who pick the fastest but make the most mistakes negatively impact the bottom line – and put their jobs in jeopardy. So does the factory worker who produces a record amount of widgets per hour, but must scrap 20 percent of the finished goods.

Your responsibility is to balance efficiency with effectiveness, regardless of your role. One without the other will prevent you from achieving operational success.

Share this article

About the Author
Recommended Reading
Leave a Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign Up for the MDM Update Newsletter

The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!

2

articles left

Want more Premium content from MDM?

Subscribe today and get:

  • New issues twice each month
  • Unlimited access to mdm.com, including 10+ years of archived data
  • Current trends analysis, market data and economic updates
  • Discounts on select store products and events

Subscribe to continue reading

MDM Premium Subscribers get:

  • Unlimited access to MDM.com
  • 1 year digital subscription, with new issues twice a month
  • Trends analysis, market data and quarterly economic updates
  • Deals on select store products and events

1

article
left

You have one free article remaining

Subscribe to MDM Premium to get unlimited access. Your subscription includes:

  • Two new issues a month
  • Access to 10+ years of archived data on mdm.com
  • Quarterly economic updates, trends analysis and market data
  • Store and event discounts

To continue reading, you must be an MDM Premium subscriber.

Join other distribution executives who use MDM Premium to optimize their business. Our insights and analysis help you enter the right new markets, turbocharge your sales and marketing efforts, identify business partners that help you scale, and stay ahead of your competitors.

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.