Key Employee
A worker whose knowledge or decision-making is irreplaceable for operations.
What it means
A key employee doesn't have to be a manager. It's the person a specific piece of critical knowledge depends on — someone whose absence is felt on the floor immediately.
Why it matters
Dependence on individuals is an operational risk. Identifying key people is the first step toward reducing it.
A real-world example
The only specialist who knows how to safely restart the reactor after a shutdown is retiring in a year.
Positions where the most important operational and decision-making know-how is concentrated.
A situation where an organization loses the holder of critical know-how.
An organization's readiness to replace key people without losing their know-how.
The part of an organization's knowledge whose loss would directly threaten safety, quality, or continuity.
Mapping what critical knowledge an organization holds and where it's at risk.