| The Naval Sea Systems Command, the largest of | | | | determine how they are applying the methodology to |
| the Navy's five systems commands, has introduced a | | | | solve their most pressing issues. There is an |
| program called Navsea Lean. The programme is | | | | expectation, proven in many cases, that the benefits |
| based on a business improvement methodology | | | | from LSS, will include more rapid transactions and |
| termed Lean Six Sigma (LSS.) LSS is a fusion of two | | | | decisions, superior quality control, cost savings and a |
| Toyota inspired business transformation models, Six | | | | better safety record. The following is quoted directly |
| Sigma and Lean Manufacturing. Through data | | | | from the, “Statement of the Honorable Donald C. |
| collection, data analysis and solution finding both | | | | Winter, Secretary of the Navy before the Senate |
| models seek to eliminate waste in terms of | | | | armed services committee – 28 February,2008. |
| over-priced budgets, non-binary process steps, faulty | | | | Under the title of, “Management Process |
| product manufacture and slow process speed. The | | | | Improvement,” he writes, |
| final result, when the system works, is stream lined | | | | “Complementary action to our acquisition |
| processes that delivers better service. | | | | improvement initiatives is our commitment to |
| Lean Six Sigma projects are administered by leaders | | | | enhance process improvement across the |
| termed black belts within the organisation. Undergoing | | | | Department of the Navy to increase efficiency |
| intensive Lean Six Sigma management training, these | | | | andeffectiveness and responsible use of resources. |
| black belts are responsible for directing teams of | | | | The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) program, |
| green belts. Black belts are rumoured to save | | | | planned for implementation throughout the |
| hundreds of millions of dollars on the projects with | | | | Department, began initial implementation at Naval Air |
| which they are involved and a typical project lasts | | | | Systems Command in October 2007. It is an |
| around six months. Since its instigation, LSS has | | | | integrated business management system that |
| played a part in streamlining the naval contracting | | | | modernizes and standardizes business operations and |
| process, decreasing decision times and accelerating | | | | provides management visibility across the enterprise. |
| and economizing on base check in check out | | | | The Department continues to champion the use of |
| procedures. | | | | Lean Six Sigma as the primary toolset as a means |
| The decision was made in 2004 to introduce Lean Six | | | | toward increasing readiness and utilizing resources |
| Sigma initiatives into Navsea (Naval Sea Systems | | | | efficiently. Over 4,420 leaders have completed Lean |
| Command.) To date, its application has been broad, | | | | Six Sigma training, and there are over 2,000 projects |
| with 30 Navsea organisations forming part of the | | | | underway. The Department's Financial Improvement |
| initiative. Following initial introduction, results have been | | | | Program leverages ERP and strengthens control of |
| more than impressive. Significantly, the initiative has | | | | financial reporting. The Marine Corps expects to be |
| been held directly responsible for saving two hundred | | | | the first military service to achieve audit readiness. |
| million US dollars before the start of year two of its | | | | A major process improvement initiative to ensure |
| implementation. | | | | that the Department applies fundamental business |
| It was Toyota that introduced the systems that | | | | precepts to its management is the Secretary of the |
| spawned LSS. Curiously, it seems that, now, the | | | | Navy’s Monthly Review (SMR). The SMR is a |
| navy is responsible for exporting LSS back to the | | | | senior leadership forum, involving CNO, CMC and |
| nation where its concept was born. It seems | | | | Assistant Secretaries, designed to afford greater |
| somewhat ironic that the U.S. Fleet and Industrial | | | | transparency across the Department and set into |
| Supply Center in Yokosuka, have a fully integrated | | | | motion actions that garner maximum effectiveness |
| LSS program for which the training is executed in | | | | and efficiency for the Department. The SMR reviews |
| both English and Japanese. | | | | a portfolio of the bulk of Department activities and |
| Following on from Lean Six Sigma successes in other | | | | programs involving manpower, readiness, acquisition, |
| US service departments, the Department of the | | | | infrastructure, etc. Using Lean Six Sigma tools and |
| Navy (DoN) came to the conclusion that they needed | | | | other business tools, this forum reviews the most |
| to integrate Lean Six Sigma into their training | | | | urgent issues and discusses and implements |
| portfolio. As such, in 2006 they took steps to | | | | appropriate solutions. Ultimately, this monthly |
| legitimise their in house training processes by | | | | interaction serves as a means to synchronize the |
| partnering with the world’s leading authority on | | | | Department’s actions to comprehensively |
| quality, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) in | | | | address complex problems, accomplish strategic |
| order to develop a customised Lean Six Sigma Black | | | | objectives, and better position for challenges in the |
| Belt certification. | | | | future.” |
| A three-year action plan mandating Senior leaders to | | | | This document is irrefutable proof that the Lean Six |
| place LSS at the top of their problem solving toolkit | | | | Sigma stamp of approval has been indelibly written |
| has been issued by the Secretary of the Navy who | | | | into Naval policy. We can only wait with interest for |
| personally cross-examines his management team to | | | | histories analysis of its legacy. |