Officials in a Dublin City school district are using a new method to help improve processes – Lean Six Sigma.
The district is committed to implementing Lean Six Sigma to help continuously improve in all aspects, namely, improving problem-solving issues, reducing waste, increasing efficiency and saving money.
The Lean methodology has already proven itself in the short term by helping to eliminate defects and reduce costs in the school district. Dublin City recently saved more than $1 million in energy costs thanks to improved conservation efforts and a well-organized business management model.
“We are constantly seeking these types of costs savings and Lean Six Sigma concepts will not only help us recognize these opportunities, but will also help us provide data-driven solutions,” said Annette Morud, the Dublin City school district’s director of continuous improvement.
Lean Six Sigma takes the central Six Sigma tactics and applies them with “lean” strategies of production. The result is a hybrid system for improving business, making sure processes run more efficiently and with increased profitability.
One of the ways the school district staff has learned about Lean Six Sigma is by attending Lean Boot Camps. A boot camp is essentially a week-long training program where participants learn about Lean methods and tools.
Lean Boot Camps are typically run by a team of Lean Six Sigma Black Belts. Generally, the goal of Lean events is to help participants use their newfound skills from the training program to help processes run faster and more efficient.
Some administrators have also attended a Lean event known as Kaizen. A Kaizen event, also known as a Kaizen blitz, is a five-day concentrated improvement methodology that can help accomplish breakthrough improvements in a short amount of time.
Team members have arranged, managed and facilitated several Lean events, including large Kaizen events, which have helped reduce waste, improve process efficiency and save money in a variety of public and private sector organizations.
According to Morud, the school district has already begun Lean problem-solving techniques. Several projects are underway, the first of which is examining paper costs, with a goal of reducing the printer and copier budgets district-wide.
“We will keep our community updated about our progress as we implement Lean Six Sigma concepts along our continuous improvement journey.”
