The Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center recently presented four Michigan hospitals with awards for significant successes with a lean Six Sigma pilot program.The awards were given to Bay Regional Medical Center, Gratiot Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and West Branch Regional Medical Center in recognition of a training program for lean Six Sigma operational methods. Through the use of the pilot program training, the hospitals were able to train 226 people and expect to save more than $2 million through the application of new operating methods.

“Keeping health care costs down is key to building a strong economy for the 21st century,” says James C. Epolito, president and CEO of the MEDC. “Applying lean manufacturing methods to hospital operations is a smart way to curb the cost to client and health care provider alike.”

For more information, visit www.michigan.org/medc/news/major.

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