Best Practices

“Best Practices” can mean different things to different people – so a little background and perspective may be helpful.

The term was first used by experts, professors and consultants associated with the Quality Improvement movement. As focus on improving product and service quality increased, experts suggested observing and learning from those firms with superior operational processes – or “best practices”.

Today, industries from Manufacturing to Health Care have embraced industry best practices - usually in key areas that affect results: safety, operations, finance, employee relations and more. Many industries have formed industry-wide organizations to serve as a forum to gather, document and distribute best practices information.

The Best Practices Framework

With help from a wide range of fire sprinkler industry experts, FSI Best Practices has devised a framework for gathering and documenting best ways of getting things done. Organized by functions common to sprinkler contractors, Best Practices are easy to understand and include many ideas, techniques and resources for improving operations.

What's Best about Best Practices?

Best Practices Build Profit – Achieving excellence is a lofty goal, but firms that improve the quality of their operations are also rewarded with improvement in profit.

Best Practices are Not Industry Standards – Rather than industry standards that companies must comply with, Best Practices identify improvements that companies can voluntarily incorporate for improved performance.

Participation Promotes Competitiveness – Some people wonder if they give up too much by sharing information with others. Experience proves otherwise. First, there is no need to share proprietary information that creates a direct competitive advantage. Second, Best Practices creates internal improvements that result in profit improvements. Third, improved publicity and employee morale often await the company that shares its best practices.