Cutting Repeat Failures by 6X Through Targeted Training

Most organizations measure performance through food safety, operational excellence, or other assessment programs, but how often does that data actually lead to change? Frequent assessments can track problems, but they don’t fix them – targeted training does. Companies that integrate coaching between measurement cycles see repeat failures drop by a factor of six – down to nearly zero.

If performance isn’t improving, the question isn’t how often you measure – it’s what you do between assessments.

Are You Measuring Performance, or Are You Driving Improvement?

It might sound obvious, but it’s worth emphasizing: companies that take action see better results than those that only measure. Many organizations simply hope that operators will do what’s needed to pass the next audit – but hope is not a strategy. Our data shows that proactive, targeted training makes a real difference. When training is focused, consistently delivered, and broadly implemented, it leads to more effective practices and stronger outcomes.

Data alone doesn’t move the needle. Without coaching and follow-through, tracking failures becomes an endless loop of recording the same issues over and over. The organizations that achieve real improvements are the ones that go beyond measurement. By building training into their processes, they see fewer failures, stronger employee accountability, and better operational results.

The Difference Between Measurement and Intervention

Measuring performance is important, but it’s only one part of the equation. Frequent tracking tells you where the problems are – but it doesn’t solve them. Without intervention, you’re just collecting data instead of making real progress.

Intervention is where change happens. Targeted training, coaching, and support bridge the gap between identifying a problem and fixing it. Steritech has seen this firsthand: companies that shift from frequent assessments to training intervention see repeat failures plummet. Instead of just trying to pass inspections, operators learn best practices and start getting it right every day, not just when the inspector is watching.

The Risk of Measurement Without Training

Relying only on frequent assessments without fixing the root causes of issues can:

• Give a false sense of progress, even though the same issues keep happening.
• Create frustration among employees, who may not understand expectations.
• Waste resources on tracking problems instead of solving them.

The key is making measurement actionable, leading to real operational improvements, not just another report.

The Impact of Training Between Measurements

The results are clear. Organizations that train and coach between measurement cycles experience:

• A sixfold reduction in repeat failures, with some locations eliminating them entirely.
• A shift from reactive compliance to proactive performance improvement.
• Employees who feel more confident and accountable make fewer mistakes.

Steritech works with companies to move beyond data collection and ensure that insights lead to action. With the right coaching, measurement becomes a tool for growth, not just oversight.

Case Example: The Power of Targeted Intervention

One national brand working with Steritech shifted from frequent assessments to a more strategic, training-based approach. The results? Repeat failures, once a constant issue, dropped to nearly zero. Employees weren’t just improving their scores, they were consistently meeting operational standards every single day.

Identifying Will vs. Skill Through Performance Trends

Steritech can help clients analyze performance data to distinguish between issues rooted in training needs (skill gaps) versus those stemming from execution challenges (will gaps). In the example below, we examined results from two distinct performance groups within a large national client.

The clearest differences between the two groups appear in categories tied to execution and accountability, which we classify as “will-based” failures. These results suggest that coaching, follow-up, and performance management are the right levers to pull in these areas. Additional training here is unlikely to move the needle.

Conversely, the areas with minimal difference between the two groups fall under “skill-based” failures. This consistency across groups indicates that knowledge, tools, or process understanding may be lacking, making training the most effective solution.

By identifying whether underperformance is driven by skill or will, leaders can focus their efforts where they’ll have the most impact, whether that’s targeted training or stronger accountability systems.

Strategic Implications for Leadership

For executives, the takeaway is simple: Measuring performance without training is an incomplete strategy.

To drive real change, measurement has to be paired with training and coaching that:

• Fixes operational inefficiencies by addressing the real causes of failure.
• Creates stronger accountability among employees and leadership.
• Improves compliance and customer satisfaction by ensuring standards are consistently met.

Steritech partners with organizations to turn measurement into momentum, helping teams move from tracking problems to actually solving them – before they impact the business.

Measurement Alone Doesn’t Drive Improvement – Intervention Does

Measuring performance is necessary, but without action, problems will continue to repeat. When organizations integrate training and coaching between measurement cycles, they see real, lasting improvements – a sixfold reduction in repeat failures, better compliance, and stronger accountability.

Fast Facts: What Executives Need to Know

• Measurement alone doesn’t fix performance issues; intervention does.
• Companies that train between assessments reduce repeat failures by a factor of six, down to nearly zero.
• Frequent tracking without training creates a cycle of repeat failures.
• The real issue may be skill gaps (training needed) or will gaps (coaching and accountability needed).
• Targeted training improves compliance, operational efficiency, and employee performance.
• Steritech helps businesses move beyond measurement, turning insights into real improvements.

So, is your organization just measuring performance, or actually improving it?