Productivity by Eric Eriksen

Three key elements to improving productivity include workforce development, process improvement and technology.  You may often hear about businesses leveraging technology to do more with less, but so often their focus shifts away from people and process. This can lead to short-term gains, but over time the organizational knowledge, skills, performance, customer focus and entrepreneurialism may diminish. It is important to keep these three key elements in balance— starting with our people first.
Has your business adopted a process improvement methodology? If not, then imagine the possibilities of investing in your employees with process improvement education simultaneously increasing two of the three key productivity elements— workforce development and process improvement. Engagement, inclusivity and overall employee satisfaction will increase as well.  The third element, technology, will naturally follow as teams utilize a process improvement methodology to implement strategic value-add solutions.
 

Lean Six Sigma certification
That is precisely what the telecommunications giant Motorola did in 1986, when they pioneered the Lean Six Sigma process improvement methodology. Its purpose was to create a strategic advantage over competitors with a team-focused approach that continuously improves performance and eliminates waste. In other words, it’s a cultural shift towards constant improvement and customer value creation by using data to develop informed solutions and waste elimination.
Today, Lean Six Sigma is a recognized competitive advantage used around the world and across all industries (www.investopedia.com).  
This is exactly what REC is doing here in the San Luis Valley. This past spring, 16 REC employees enrolled in a Lean Six Sigma yellow belt certification course (leansixsigmainstitute.org). They were divided into two teams of eight, consisting of at least one person from each department. Linemen teamed up with accountants, engineers, member service specialists, mechanics and so on. The Lean Machine and The Lean 8 were team names as they navigated a 12-week course curriculum, exams and team projects. The basic five phases of Lean Six Sigma include: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.
 

Team projects
Team projects are the capstone to their certification by demonstrating everything they learned. Each team identified an improvement objective, such as material standard used in powerline construction and applied the five phases. At the end of 12 weeks the teams presented their projects to an evaluation committee and were measured on demonstrated learning, communication, savings and impact.  As you can imagine the pressures of achieving success were real.
In the end, both teams greatly exceeded expectations. Their projects both focused on standardizing processes in inventory and warehousing with substantial savings realized. Once an improvement is made, then it gets carried forward year after year. I am so proud of our people and their accomplishments. We really have the best working for you.
 

A culture of continuous improvement
Change can be uncomfortable and hard work. For it to become cultural requires long-term focus and dedication. The investment in our people and continuous improvement is not a one-and-done activity.
Following this year’s introduction of Lean Six Sigma, we’ve developed a new ongoing program, providing increasing growth opportunities for employees, recognition and development of new skills for creating member value. The program fosters an organizational culture of continuous improvement.  If you’re curious to learn more, then feel free to ask an employee about it or check out the certification website HERE.
We’re here whenever you need us. Connect with us online, in person, or through our social media channels. However you choose to connect, please let us know how we can serve you better.  I’ll close with one of my favorite quotes:

“Challenge yourself; It’s the only path which leads to growth.” ~Morgan Freeman