Operations professionals should create efficiencies across all business units. It is a horizontal role working with each vertical function. “Six Sigma” is a popular methodology deployed in lean ops.
Analytics dive deeper than the P&L. Adding analytics into decision-making is critical to uncovering areas of adhesion between departments and zones of unnecessary overlap. Tactics include rooting out useful pre-existing data you may already be tracking or adding cloud-based software tools into functional teams.
My style of “active listening” to key members of every functional group- not only leadership- helps me uncover further data on how to improve CapX and OpX, support sales and increase revenue.