by Brion Hurley A 2-year grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was awarded to the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Healthcare Alliance (CRHA) nonprofit organization, to help establish a Community Anticoagulation Therapy (CAT) management clinic to reduce adverse events. Employees of Rockwell Collins provided technical assistance on Lean, Six Sigma and quality methods. They began […]
Sixty thousand acres of shoreline biodiversity was being threatened by an invasive plant. The impact of the invasive plant needed to be measured and restoration success needed to be monitored. JMP® was used for visualization and analysis of the data gathered in monitoring and measuring the efficacy of the control work. As a result, the invasive […]
Written by Brion
The Seattle zoo is one of a handful of nonprofits that Boeing has trained in lean process techniques, an efficiency program closely associated with manufacturing that eliminates costs by reducing wasted time and materials. The process helped save the project 1.5 percent, or more than $90,000, and also eliminated the need for additional fundraising. Read […]
Written by Brion
The City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, has embarked on a lean journey that has freed up limited resources and improved customer service. Lean success stories at manufacturers and other businesses in the region, including a local hospital, caught the ears of both Mayor George Heartwell and City Manager Kurt Kimball. After further research, and conversations […]
Written by Brion
In 1993, the City of Coral Springs, in Florida, began its journeyto be a high-performing “municipal corporation,” a city government following a corporate management model. And, much like a business, Coral Springs is customer focused and data driven. The city’s organizational culture is reflected in its four core values: Customer focus—demonstrate a passion for customer service Leadership—establish […]
Written by Brion
The staff at a bureau within a large NYC municipal agency did not have an effective approach to managing the increasing burden of email. As a result, work piled up and deadlines slipped. People were overwhelmed and felt as though they had no control over their jobs. The staff was taught how to apply lean […]
Written by Brion
Thibodaux Regional Medical Center (TRMC) in Louisiana started to apply Six Sigma and change management methods to a range of clinical and operational issues. In October 2004, one project that clearly aligned with the hospital’s strategic plan was an initiative to reduce nosocomial or hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. The project to address this issue was approved by […]
Written by Brion
A Six Sigma project was conducted with the Fort Worth Habitat for Humanity (now called Trinity) to reduce the cycle time from Final Inspection to Permanent Electric Meter being set for new homeowners. The goal was to reduce the time from an average of 15 days down to 10 business days, to reduce the homeowners […]
Written by Brion