LEAP Awards Recognize Excellence Across the Army Enterprise</B>
What is it'
As the Army moves to adapt its institutions, senior leaders are recognizing the contributions that Lean Six Sigma (LSS) practitioners provide to the force. On November 24th, the Army held the second annual LSS Excellence Award Program (LEAP) ceremony for LSS practitioners leading superior process improvement and project execution. Commissioned by the Secretary of the Army, the LEAP Award is intended to recognize individuals and teams who demonstrate excellence in building, sustaining, and implementing results-driven process improvement projects.
Currently there are over 8,000 LSS practitioners embedded across the Army. Out of these, the Manpower & Reserve Affairs/G1 team led by Dr. Michael Drillings received three LEAP Awards: two individual practitioner awards and the HQDA Organizational Deployment award for enterprise-wide project work extending beyond the team's functional area.
What has the Army done'
In the last year the M&RA/G1 LSS Team has documented over $40 million in cost savings and over $30 million in cost avoidance for the Army. This financial benefit translates to supporting Soldiers and Soldier families with stronger processes and quicker results with fewer mistakes. With committed leadership and a dedicated team effort, M&RA/G1 LSS enabled the Reserve Component (RC) to assume active-duty for contingency operations 50 percent faster by simplifying and automating application processes. By carefully analyzing customer issues and working across the Army enterprise, M&RA/G1 LSS helped reduce the Wounded Warrior Medical Retention Processing (MRP) wait time from almost 12 days to less than two days. In both projects the results extended beyond a dollar amount; it allowed for better-informed resource management and improved force preservation.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future'
The M&RA/G1 LSS Team continues to identify, develop and implement process improvements dedicated to sustaining the all-volunteer force and improving the lives the Soldiers and families. It is the team's goal to continue working across organizational lines to do what is best as an integrated institution.
Why is LSS important to the Army'
LSS uses a set of data-driven tools to improve operational and organizational processes. Applied to the Army, this total systems approach encourages enterprise-wide synergy. Typically, processes that seem localized and self-contained start to spread across the organization and require total Army Leadership support. By embracing the enterprise approach, the Army can continue to benefit from and duplicate the success of LSS as a business organization, institution and culture.
Resources:
<a href="http://www.armyg1.army.mil/leansixsigma/default.asp " target="_blank"> G-1 Lean Six Sigma strategy</a>
AKO Log in required: <a href="https://www.armyenterprise.army.mil" target="_blank">Army Enterprise Web site</a>
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