COOs stress KPIs and routines

A dss+ roundtable in Düsseldorf put chief operating officers on a simple message: operational change in metals, mining and manufacturing lives or dies on a few measured routines. (consultdss.com) dss+ said the March 2026 session brought together operational leaders from metals and mining and industrial manufacturing, then built the discussion on questionnaires, interviews, market analysis and challenge fact sheets gathered before the event. (consultdss.com) The firm’s post-event paper said those inputs showed three recurring problems across companies: rising performance pressure, capability gaps and uneven execution caused by both structural and behavioral factors. (consultdss.com) The discussion centered on daily execution, not long-range strategy decks. dss+ said participants focused on leadership routines, management systems and capability building as the tools that make performance more consistent on the plant floor and at mine sites. (consultdss.com) That emphasis tracks with the sectors in the room. dss+ describes its mining and metals work as helping operators improve productivity, cost leadership, safety and supply-chain performance across high-risk assets. (consultdss.com) The company has been making the same case in client work. In a February 2024 case study, dss+ said a global mining company rolling out a new production system targeted more than $1 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization improvement while also trying to improve asset integrity and safety. (consultdss.com) In another mining case study, published in 2024, dss+ said an Australian operator dealing with higher costs, environmental pressure and skills shortages used diagnostics, workshops and a tailored roadmap to lift productivity and streamline operations. (consultdss.com) A recent metals case study made the people point even more directly. dss+ said a North American metals company found that stronger procedures alone did not fix safety problems when production pressure, weak engagement and gaps in leadership systems persisted. (consultdss.com) The roundtable’s takeaway was narrower than a broad “transform the culture” slogan. dss+ framed the work as building repeatable habits, clearer accountability and frontline capability so operators can turn intent into daily results. (consultdss.com)