Execution Reliability Checklist
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About this execution reliability
Reliable execution is not about working harder. It is about removing guesswork so the right work happens, in the right order, to the right standard — every shift. This execution reliability checklist gives operations teams a simple structure for preparation, in-process checks, clear escalation criteria, and a clean close-out.
Use it for daily operations, shift handovers, busy periods, and any time you need consistency across sites without relying on memory or “how we do it here”.
What this execution reliability checklist covers
- Preparation checks to confirm people, priorities, tools, and constraints before work starts
- In-process checks to spot drift early (quality, rework, handovers, and progress vs plan)
- Escalation criteria so issues are raised while there is still time to recover
- Close-out actions that leave the next shift ready and capture learning that prevents repeat failures
Who it is for
This checklist works best for operations teams running repeatable work across shifts and locations — store teams, depot teams, field teams, and area support. If you are dealing with inconsistent standards, missed steps, or “we only find out at the end”, this is a practical place to start.
How to use it without slowing people down
- Keep it tight: focus on the few checks that prevent the most failures
- Check during the work: do not leave quality and exceptions until close-out
- Escalate early: if you are unsure, raise it — waiting creates bigger problems
- Close out properly: record what moved, why it moved, and who owns it next
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
When you run this checklist consistently, you get a clearer picture of what is really breaking execution — unclear standards, missing materials, system issues, handover gaps, or skill needs. That knowledge makes reliability repeatable, not heroic.
If you want to run this as a digital checklist with real-time visibility, evidence capture, and trends across sites, you can do it in Ocasta.
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, health and safety, or professional advice. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, standards, and internal policies.
Included questions
Here's what's included in this execution reliability:
Before you start (10)
Set the shift up for reliable execution. If the basics are unclear, everything downstream becomes guesswork.
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Text
Shift date
Use local site date format.
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Text
Site or location
Store, depot, branch, or area.
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Person
Shift lead
Who is accountable for delivery this shift?
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Yes/No
Is the team on duty confirmed and briefed on roles?
Confirm who is doing what, and who covers breaks and peak periods.
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Yes/No
Are today’s critical tasks identified and prioritised?
List the non-negotiables for safety, customer impact, and compliance.
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Text
What are the top three critical tasks for this shift?
Keep it specific and measurable (for example, ‘complete opening checks by 09:00’).
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Yes/No
Have you checked the latest operational updates and changes?
Promotions, process changes, safety notices, system issues, and local exceptions.
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Yes/No
Are tools, equipment, and systems ready to use?
If anything is down, agree the workaround before work starts.
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Yes/No
Are required materials and stock available for planned work?
Avoid starting tasks you cannot finish because of missing parts or stock.
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Text
Any known constraints or risks for this shift?
For example: short staffing, late delivery, equipment fault, local event, weather.
In-process execution checks (10)
Keep delivery on track while work is happening — not after it’s already failed.
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Yes/No
Did critical work start on time?
If not, record what blocked the start and what you changed to recover.
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Yes/No
Is work being completed to the agreed standard (not local variations)?
If the standard does not fit reality today, capture why and escalate.
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Yes/No
Are quality checks happening at the right points (not just at the end)?
Checkpoints should catch errors early and reduce rework.
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Yes/No
Are exceptions being logged as they occur?
If you rely on memory at the end of the shift, you miss patterns.
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Text
Summarise any exceptions so far
What happened, when, impact, and what you did immediately.
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Yes/No
Has any rework been required today?
Rework is a reliability signal. Capture the cause, not just the fix.
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Dropdown
If yes, what caused the rework?
Choose the primary cause. Add detail in notes if needed.
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Yes/No
Are handover points clear between people or teams?
Confirm ownership, timing, and what ‘done’ looks like.
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Vibe
How is progress tracking against plan right now?
Use this to trigger an early course correction.
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Yes/No
Is workload balanced enough to maintain standards?
If one person is overloaded, standards drift and errors rise.
Escalation criteria (8)
Escalate early. Reliability fails when people wait too long to ask for support or make a call.
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Yes/No
Is there any safety risk that cannot be controlled immediately?
If yes: stop the task, make the area safe, and escalate now.
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Yes/No
Is there any compliance risk or mandatory step that cannot be completed today?
If yes: escalate with the reason and the proposed workaround.
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Yes/No
Will this issue impact customers or service levels today?
If yes: escalate with expected impact and recovery actions.
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Yes/No
Is there a system outage or degraded performance affecting delivery?
If yes: log the time, what is affected, and what workaround is in place.
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Yes/No
Has the same failure happened more than once today?
Repeat failures are a strong signal of a broken process or unclear standard.
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Yes/No
Does this need escalation right now?
If you are unsure, escalate. Waiting is usually the most expensive option.
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Dropdown
Who are you escalating to?
Choose the closest owner who can remove the blocker.
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Text
What did you escalate, and what response did you get?
Include: issue, impact, what you tried, what you need, and by when.
Close-out and learning (8)
Finish cleanly, capture what matters, and remove guesswork for the next shift.
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Percentage
What percentage of critical tasks were completed?
Be honest. This is about visibility, not blame.
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Yes/No
Have any missed or deferred tasks been recorded with a reason?
If something moved, capture the new owner and due time.
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Text
List any deferred tasks, including owner and due time
Example: ‘Stock count — Alex — tomorrow 10:00 — blocked by late delivery’.
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Yes/No
Is the work area left safe, clean, and ready for the next team?
Reset beats recovery. Remove trip hazards, tidy, and store equipment correctly.
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Yes/No
Has a clear handover been completed?
Cover: what’s done, what’s not, known issues, and what needs attention first.
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Text
What is the one issue most likely to cause failure again?
Name the root cause as clearly as you can (not just the symptom).
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Text
What change would remove guesswork next time?
For example: update the standard, add a checkpoint, change timing, improve comms.
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Signature
Shift lead sign-off
Confirms the checklist reflects what actually happened.