Explanation
Objectives translate your policy into something people can work on, such as lower consumption, fewer incidents or more satisfied customers. They are preferably SMART: specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic and time-bound. And they belong to the functions and processes that influence them.
Each objective comes with a plan: what will you do, who is responsible, which resources do you need, when is it done and how do you measure the result? That plan is often worked out in actions. You track progress with KPIs and discuss it during the management review.
An objective is neither a task nor a KPI. The task is the activity with which you pursue the objective, the KPI is the yardstick. If an objective is not met, that is a reason to investigate why and to adjust the plan or the objective. That is how the PDCA cycle carries through into your objectives.
Example from practice
A waste processor sets as an objective that more near misses are reported this year, because reporting is the basis for learning. The QHSE coordinator is responsible and reports every quarter.
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