In 2007, the United States Military needed the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) produced in larger numbers to meet the goals set by Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Robert Gates. The MRAP represented the opportunity to save the lives of soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan facing the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices […]
Rep. Raul Torres believes that Texas can save 20-25 billion dollars from its biennial budget if every department will utilize Lean/Six Sigma methods and he points to the example of the City of Irving, Texas, which Rep. Torres told me cut their budget from $188 million to $168 million while at the same time improving […]
Written by Brion
As the 2012 election year approaches, many topics are sure to surface, but none so much as the U.S. budget, its deficit and how to stop unnecessary spending. This topic is on the minds of not only the presidential candidates, but also every American citizen. Democrats and Republicans alike agree that something needs to be […]
Written by Brion
At the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting, Toyota announced that they will be working with up to 20 community organizations across the United States in the first year to help improve performance. They will begin with the St. Bernard Project, a New Orleans recovery organization that employs returning war veterans, AmeriCorps members and volunteers to rebuild […]
Written by Brion
Interview with Donna Maxfield, Chief of Staff for the United Nations Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support. She describes how the UN is using Lean Six Sigma to improve the efficiency of its peacekeeping operations. Improvements were made in speeding up reference and medical clearance checks, and aligning roles and responsibilities. Read more at: […]
Written by Brion
A look at how productivity and process improvement has impacted the operations of an Alberta not-for-profit organisation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton. See how process improvement can positively affect any workplace, even an office environment. Results led to volunteers signing up 50% faster, overtime being reduced by 65%, and happier staff with less sick […]
Written by Brion
Over the years, Iowa state government has been involved with numerous improvement processes, with varying degrees of success. One improvement tool now in action in the Iowa DOT’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is the Kaizen process, supported by the Iowa Department of Management’s (DOM) Office of Lean Enterprise. Mark Lowe, MVD director, says his group […]
Written by Brion
Non-profit organization Lex-Pro arranges work for people with disabilities. One of Toyota’s top executives appealed to Lexington business leaders Friday, asking them to offer not money but work to Lex-Pro. In January, Toyota setup a work cell inside their plant for Lex-Pro workers to perform sub-assembly work on exhaust brackets. An 11-person team rotates in […]
Written by Brion
Russell Maroni, a Lean Six Sigma leader at The Akron Children’s Hospital Center of Operations Excellence (COE), had the opportunity to spend much time in Haiti as a selfless volunteer. During his time there, he wrote his thoughts in a journal, which he has since published as a Kindle Book. When you buy and read […]
Written by Brion
The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) encourages students to “Prepare, Discover, Transform.” As the University has become highly successful, it now struggled to support the demands of the increased volume of a growing regional University. A 3-day Value Stream Mapping event was held to focus on the procurement process. With this detailed view of […]
Written by Brion