ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The Joint Munitions Command headquarters recently completed a green belt Lean Six Sigma project designed to reduce the cycle time involved in publishing the monthly Munitions Readiness Review.

The goal of the project was to reduce the cycle time by 10 percent by developing automated means of loading data into the MRR database and reducing the potential for errors.

The project used detailed process and value stream mapping, the Fishbone (Cause and Effect) diagram, and one-way Analysis of Variance. ANOVA tests whether the mean (average) result of any alternative is different from the others. These methods were used to interpret baseline
data gathered from the MRR team.

For example, the value stream mapping allowed the team to determine which steps of the process involved the most touch labor.

The team assembled to carry out the project consisted of seven members, including the project sponsor and master black belt and three ad hoc members. It was made up of personnel from the JMC Munitions Logistics Readiness Center, deputy chief of staff for Information Management,
Worldwide Ammunitions Reporting System office and deputy chief of staff for Resource Management.

Modifications to improve the performance included developing automated methods of obtaining and loading data from Total Ammunition Management Information System, Forecasted Analysis of Ammunition Expenditures, and PRODSTAT Refresh. The team coordinated with the process owners of these systems to provide data that could be used without the need for manual processes.

The project was a great success because the goals were met and kept on schedule. The actual reduction in process time was 18 percent, 8 percent more than the original goal.