‘‘Their Green Belt training focused on the history of Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) and the tools used in Lean, Six Sigma, and Theory of Constraints,” said Ann Shows, NSWCDD Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. ‘‘Our graduates learned basic facilitation skills and practiced them while engaging in several exercises to help them understand the effect of CPI and Lean Six Sigma in the workplace.”

The Indian Head Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (IHD NSWC), the Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity (NOSSA) and Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC) employees also participated in the training and were awarded Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training certificates. NSWCDD, IHD NSWC, ATRC and NOSSA are all major tenant activities of Naval Support Activity South Potomac.

‘‘The candidates are taught and given opportunities to practice some of the tools they will use in facilitating improvement teams in Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs),” said Shows. ‘‘They also participate in a scenario to drive home how powerful continuous process improvement can be. At the end of the week, they must pass a test based on the Navy body of knowledge for Naval Sea Systems Command Green Belts.”

Once trained, candidates must complete facilitation requirements before they can be certified. This can be accomplished by being a facilitator in either: four RIEs, two projects or one project and two RIEs.

‘‘When the candidate has completed the facilitation requirements, he or she submits paperwork documenting participation in the events to the Department CPI Representative,” said Shows. ‘‘This paperwork along with an endorsement from the department is forwarded to the CPI Office. Lisa Manley, Dahlgren's Lean Champion, interviews and certifies the candidates.”

As the Navy faces challenges with respect to the affordability of the current and future Fleet, all hands at the NAVSEA Warfare Centers have been charged with an ongoing, long-term commitment to seek out ways to trim total ownership costs.

‘‘Total Ownership Cost (TOC) reductions can be achieved through Continuous Process Improvement efforts,” said Manley. ‘‘NSWC DD continues to identify and execute initiatives, such as the elimination of cumbersome work practices, to reduce total ownership costs. This includes manning and maintenance costs from research development and procurement to training, operation, logistics and disposal, for the life of a ship or system.”

The following NSWCDD employees received Green Belt training certificates in March.

• Engagement Systems Department: Paul Atkinson, Chris Cheng, Casey Clark, Doyle Green, Thomas Holland, Hillar Lago, Kevin Stottlar, Javier Villanueva and George Wiles.
  
• Strategic and Weapon Control Systems Department: Rudy Catahan, Mike Gillum, Josef Koza and Kim Wright.
  
• Electromagnetic and Sensor Systems Department: Walter Mendez and Alexander Strugatsky.
  
• Warfare Systems Department: Rob Lewis and Eric Rocholl.

• Focusing on the value added to the customer and maximizing their return on investment.
  
• Eliminating redundancies and non-value added activities.
  
• Leveraging continuous process improvement tools and methodologies.
  
• Prioritizing application of these tools and methodologies to the right value streams to achieve maximum results.
  
• Sharing best practices and lessons learned across multiple enterprises.
  
• Developing efficient and effective operations with the speed, agility, and responsiveness necessary to adapt to our changing environment.
  
• Educating and developing our in house process improvement leaders and Lean Six Sigma experts.
  
• Aligning with Navy-wide Lean initiatives.
  
• Identifying cost reductions and capturing savings.