The U.S. Army recently reported a dramatic operations improvement at a European Humvee engine rebuilding facility due to the application of lean Six Sigma.

A team of Black Belts and Green Belts organized a week-long Rapid Improvement Event (RIE) at the Rhein Ordnance Barracks in Germany in an effort to streamline maintenance and repair operations, reports the Army News Service. The team spent the first day simply observing mechanics at work before identifying parts organization, facility layout and employee communication as improvement opportunities. All employees were also invited to suggest solutions to problems they identified.

“An RIE is designed to yield maximum results in a minimal amount of time,” says Meredith Weber, 21st Theater Support Command lean Six Sigma manager. “It’s fast-paced and can be stressful, but it’s useful in identifying and correcting inefficiencies in any process, from manufacturing to office work. There’s always something that can be improved, and this is a great tool to make that happen.”

 …