Four of the Army's future leaders and depot personnel used Lean Six Sigma (LSS) problem solving methodology to reduce repetitive handling of material in the Systems Integration and Support Directorate's Machining Branch at Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Team Tobyhanna personnel attended the annual Project Days event at West Point, New York, where cadets from the U.S. Military Academy presented their senior capstone projects. The team has been working together for about a year to streamline processes in the machine shop.
Cadets presented their project during the 18th annual General Donald R. Keith Memorial Capstone Conference. The conference features research projects, which apply a comprehensive set of skills and concepts to a real-world problem or contemporary research area.
For years, West Point and Team Tobyhanna have joined forces to complete capstone projects benefitting depot programs and meeting student requirements. This year the cadets worked with Configuration Management Specialist Iris Lyle on an ongoing Black Belt project. Lyle works in the Production Engineering Directorate's C4 and Logistics Engineering Division.
The students visited Tobyhanna multiple times to conduct this project. They joined forces with depot employees to define, measure, analyze, improve and control this issue. During the process, the cadets helped facilitate activities that used Lean tools such as process maps, fishbone diagrams and root cause analysis, while applying Six Sigma techniques and tools like control charts and correlation analysis.
"As the partnership with West Point grows and matures, we realize this relationship is providing clarity and depth to these young men and women who are preparing for their first active duty assignment," said Michael McKeefery, chief of the Continuous Process Improvement Directorate's Process Improvement Division. "Their time here has resulted in expanding their knowledge of when, where, how, and what Team Tobyhanna can do to support the warfighter now and in the future."
Hundreds of cadets from all academic departments participate in the annual West Point Projects Day, according to the usma.edu website. More than 300 cadet capstone projects reflecting senior theses, design projects, culminating performances and extramural research projects affecting current world issues were presented at this year's event.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.
About 3,200 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 Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 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.
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