‘Resolute’ brigade provides Lean Six Sigma training to deployed Soldiers

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alexander Burnett | Tim Fowler, a CPS Professional Services contractor assigned to Task Force Resolute, teaches a group of soldiers about Lean Six Sigma at the U.S. Forces Afghanistan conference room on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Lean Six Sigma is a business methodology used to improve the quality of a product while reducing cost and the time needed for delivery.  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

12.06.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Alexander Burnett 

7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary)

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Military logistics operations are centered on providing the best possible service to their customers. Ensuring the best possible service to soldiers downrange is the priority of every logistics leader. One deployed unit is providing their soldiers an opportunity to learn new ways to improve logistic capabilities.

The Task Force Resolute command provides a Lean Six Sigma course four times a week at the U.S. Forces Afghanistan conference room on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

Lean Six Sigma is a business methodology that teaches how to effectively provide higher quality product, in a more cost effective method, faster. Army Central Command decided to place a contractor with TF-Resolute to provide quality control and soldier training, said Tim Fowler, the CPS Professional Services contractor assigned to TF-Resolute.

“It was the decision of Maj. Gen. Gary Cheek, the Army Central Command deputy commanding general to place a contractor downrange with the troops,” said Fowler. “I am here to help the Army provide better quality to the soldiers.”

The class Fowler teaches is a 40-hour Army course called “Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training.” Twice a week, 40 soldiers learn the fundamental skills necessary to improve their internal practices and become more effective as leaders.

The most fundamental principal taught by the “Green Belt” course is to center the students thinking to several key concepts: define, measure, analyze, improve and control.

The soldier begins by defining a need within their organization centered around quality, cost or timing. The need must be clearly stated through a quantifiable unit such as units shipped, number of products delivered in a sub-standard state or the amount of time it takes to bring a product to the customer. soldiers measure all their statistics through historical data.

The data is analyzed and the implications of faults within the organizations system are used to determine methods of improvement. These methods are implemented and used to control a steady improvement in service to the end customer.

“Lean Six Sigma is a world-class business strategy that is proven to increase value to the customer while reducing costs to the organization,” said Fowler. “The soldiers learning these skills can expect to see drastic improvements in their missions while the end customer sees improvement in product quality and speed.”

Fowler plans to start another class in the spring of 2012. His current students strongly recommend the course to all leaders and soldiers.

“Through Lean Six Sigma, soldiers and leaders will learn how to properly manage time and resources while delivering a top quality product the first time,” said Chief Warrant Officer Jackie Vuorinen, the TF-Resolute safety officer. “This is a program all soldiers can use to save Army resources while providing higher quality products.”

• Date Taken: 12.06.2011
• Date Posted: 12.07.2011 08:12
• Story ID: 80994
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF