Technician earns Green Belt

By Ms. Jacqueline Boucher (AMC)December 22, 2010

Technician earns Green Belt
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

George Friberg, industrial engineering technician, earned a Green Belt certificate based on the results of a Six Sigma project.

He and a team of travel experts were able to reduce the number of late travel request forms submitted to the Resource Management Directorate by 30 percent. Further expansion of the project resulted in a 99 percent reduction in the Defense Travel System Travel Request rework.

Using proven tools and concepts, the project achieved a first-year cost avoidance of over $23,000 and over $550,000 through 2017.

The depot is experiencing improved on-time travel rates and substantially reduced process rework, thereby reduced labor costs and overtime, according to Friberg. He noted that benefits include reduced stress and improved morale.

Friberg explained that education is the key to creating a culture where continuous improvement and innovation are part of daily consciousness.

"It feels great to be able to apply the Six Sigma methodology toward improving processes," Friberg said. "With each completed project, we take a small step closer to the realization of this goal [continuous improvement], which improves Tobyhanna's competitive posture, helps us deliver "best value" products and services to customers."

Team members played in integral role in the success of this project.

"Thank you for contributing your time, energy, knowledge and creativity to making the project a success," Friberg said.

Friberg works in the Productivity Improvement and Innovation (PII) Directorate's Process Engineering Division.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.

About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.