FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2009

- Joe Barto IV successfully completes Navy Lean Six Sigma Program and Black Belt Certification -

The Navy Lean Six Sigma Program prepares individuals to become “change-agents” for process improvement.  The training equips students with the principles and tools necessary to drive improvements based on facts and data, integrating the best, industry-standard methodologies, including Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints, and team facilitation techniques. The objective of the program is to provide qualified Black Belts who apply a disciplined, data-driven approach to continuously improve the way organizations do business.  Results of the improvements must be focused on the customer, aligned with strategic initiatives, sustainable, and designed to reduce the time, quality, or cost to the customer.

All Training is be led by a Master Black Belt from the NAVSEA Lean Six Sigma College.   The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training program consists of the following major components:

  1. Five weeks of classroom instruction spread over a five month period.  During the last week of class students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam based on the Department of Navy Black Belt Body of Knowledge.
  2. Completion of a process improvement project, based on the DMAIC model, with the goal of producing significant Return on Investment (cost, schedule, quality, safety).  Completion is defined as:       
    a.   Satisfactory application of the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) model based on the judgment of your class instructors
    b. ..    Submit a report to the college electronically that documents the application of the DMAIC model
    c.   Submit a storyboard electronically that documents the application of the DMAIC model.
    d.  .Final briefings to the value stream Champion / Project owner and the instructors closing out the project.

At the completion of the course, the successful Black Belt candidate will be able to
.............a.   Facilitate Lean Six Sigma DMAIC Projects
.............b.   Facilitate Value Stream Analyses
.............c.   Advise Value Stream Champions / Project Sponsors
.............d.   Apply critical thinking skills to complex problems
.............e.   Drive improvements that produce tangible results
.............f.    Teach, coach and mentor Green Belts