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The Lean Six Sigma (LSS) LEAP Awards Catapult a Dozen Army Organizations Center Stage as They are Recognized for Excellence in CPI Initiatives

By Denise Kovalevich, OEMSeptember 5, 2023

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The 13th biennial Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Excellence Award Program (LEAP) ceremony, acknowledging individuals and teams who demonstrated excellence in building, sustaining, and implementing results-driven process improvement projects this past year, will be held on Teams 6 September 2023. Hosted by Mr. Robin Swan, Director, U.S. Army Office of Enterprise Management, Director of Enterprise Management (DOEM), the awards were broken into two categories: Process Improvement Deployment Excellence Award (PIDEA) and Process Improvement Project Team Excellence Award (PIPTEA).

The winners are as follows:

  • Process Improvement Deployment Excellence Award (PIDEA) – PIDEA honors organizations that deliver outstanding results in the deployment of process improvement methodologies and the achievement of exceptional organizational performance.  
  • U.S. Army National Guard PIDEA Headquarters Of The Army: For outstanding results in the deployment of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and the achievement of exceptional organizational performance from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2022. The Army National Guard (ARNG) excelled in project coordination and executed improvement initiatives that enhanced people, readiness, and modernization. Steady growth in practitioner capacity enabled a continued focus on business process improvement initiatives that produced financial and operational benefits. The sustained benefits realized improved the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and policies for ARNG and across the Army. 
  • U.S. Army Materiel Command, U.S. Army Tank, Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM)PIDEA Organizations Subordinate To Army Regulation 10-87 DRU: For the continued growth in the deployment of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and the achievement of organizational performance from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2022. TACOM excelled in project coordination and executed improvement initiatives that enhanced readiness, depot forecast error, supply and material availability, safety, and quality of life. The sustained benefits realized improved the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and policies for TACOM, AMC and the Army. 
  • United States Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division (MVD)PIDEA Organizations Subordinate To Army Regulation 10-87 Commands: For outstanding results in the deployment of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and the achievement of exceptional organizational performance from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2022. MVD excelled in project coordination and executed improvement initiatives that enhanced people, readiness, and modernization. Steady growth in practitioner capacity enabled a continued focus on business process improvement initiatives that produced financial and operational benefits. The sustained benefits realized improved the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and policies for MVD and across the Army. 
  • Process Improvement Project Team Excellence Award (PIPTEA) – PIPTEA recognizes the outstanding contributions and results of LSS process improvement teams.  
  • U.S. Army National Guard – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Black Belt): Improve the Presentation, Legal Review Template and File Storage and Retrieval Process. This project improved the process efficiency by reducing the average monthly overruns in the cable fabrication process from 1,246 hours to 240 hours, thereby reducing program costs and ensuring competitive advantage. The sustained benefits from this project reduced the annual fabrication cost, improved process efficiency and operation readiness for the Army. 
  • U.S. Army Reserve Command, Continuous Process Improvement Office – For the outstanding enterprise project: Family Programs Quality of Life Study. This project impacted organizational effectiveness and efficiency through the implementation of the following recommendations: include Family Readiness as a The Commander's Ready and Resilient Council (CR2C) Topic; family readiness personnel attend and participate in Regional Soldier and Family Readiness Training (RSFRT) events that will better prepare command teams to create and promote an active Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG). These actions will enhance operational readiness across the U.S. Army Reserve.
  • The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army – For the outstanding enterprise project: Increase G-1 Form SSN Justification Sigma Quality Level (SQL). This project reduced the number of forms using SSNs decreasing processing times for the Army Records Management Division (RMD) (fewer actions in the queue for RMD), improved record keeping and reduced our total yearly iterations of these types of actions from approximately 30 to 20 per year, enhancing operational readiness across the Army. 
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans Engineer District – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Green Belt): Increase Frequency and Reduce Time to Complete DPMAP Status Report. This project provided an annual cost avoidance of over $33K and the expanded Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) Regional Status Dashboard provides an estimated annual cost avoidance of over $200K. The innovative product impacts every regional employee covered by the DPMAP appraisal program. The sustained benefits enabled leaders and supervisors to ensure each covered employee receives a performance plan, mid-year review, and appraisal. 
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Engineering and Support Center (HNC) – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Green Belt): Improve In-Processing. This project significantly improved HNC’s on-boarding process and policy to ensure top talent is more efficiently and effectively available to complete work assignments. The process cycle time was reduced by over 62%, from an average of 29 days down to an average 11 days to on-board new talent. The sustained benefits from this project improved process efficiency and operation readiness for HNC. 
  • U.S. Army Reserve Command, 63d Readiness Division – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Non-Gated): Miscellaneous Payment Audit Process Design. This project improved the operational efficiency by ensuring fiscal accountability and responsibility at all echelons of the organization through enforcement of proper procedures and standards. Successful implementation of this project reduces the risk of repeat Anti-Deficiency Act violations in the future. The sustained benefits from this project enhanced operational readiness for the U.S. Army Component Command. 
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Non-Gated): Enterprise Replication to Increase Frequency and Reduce Time to Complete DPMAP Status Report. This project significantly increases operational efficiency by enabling leaders and supervisors to ensure each covered employee receives a performance plan, mid-year review, and appraisal (as applicable). It bolsters USACE compliance with DoD DPMAP requirements and FKPI measures, but more importantly, it aids in retaining top talent through more effective performance management. The sustained benefits from this project enhance operational readiness for the Army – the strength of our Nation. 
  • Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Management & Comptroller – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Non-Gated): Resource Managers' Workspace (RMW) Business Process Reengineering. This project significantly improved the operational efficiency by using the RMW enterprise BPR outcomes to improve the entire Army RM organization’s performance. Using the improved process, it is estimated to reduce 40-man hours per person with a total of 10,000 users once fully implemented. This action contributes to the enhanced operational readiness for the Army. 
  • U.S. Army Reserve Command, U.S. Army Reserve – For the outstanding non-enterprise project (Non-Gated): Improve the 810th Hospital Center's ATRRS Application Process. The ATRRS process helps to improve overall unit readiness. This project reduced the time it takes for school enrollment and decreased the amount of non-duty MOS qualified Soldiers. The process increased the unit’s deployment readiness and ability to support the United States Army as required. The sustained benefits from this project enhance operational readiness for the 810th Hospital Center. 

All award recipients were chosen by a selection board comprising twelve representatives from organizations across the Army. To be eligible for a 2022 LEAP Award, work must have been completed between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2022.

Congratulations to all of this year’s LEAP Award winners for your tireless work, commitment to excellence, and outstanding achievements in driving and sustaining outstanding process improvement initiatives. OEM thanks you for your dedication and passion and looks forward to your future endeavors!