Expert to teach efficiency methods to Trumbull County managers

The methods can reduce costs by 50 percent or more, the expert says.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Jim Odom retired this month as an efficiency expert for Delphi Packard.

Starting today, he will teach what he knows about the Lean and Six Sigma productivity methods to eight management employees from various Trumbull County government departments in hopes of reducing waste and improving productivity.

Odom, of Cortland, will provide one 3-hour session for eight weeks for free with a goal of getting the word out that he is available to other government bodies who may want to improve efficiency in their organization.

The eight employees participating are James Keating, human resources director; Gary Engstrom, director of the Office of Elderly Affairs; James Ciszewski, Melissa Binion and Dan Sabula of the Department of Job and Family Services; Bill Miller and Trish Nuskievicz of the planning commission; and Rex Fee, executive director of the sanitary engineering department.

County Commissioner Frank Fuda said additional employees will be trained in upcoming sessions.

Lean methods were first used in the 1920s at Ford and later in the 1950s at Toyota, according to Breakthrough Management Group International.

Many companies have implemented Lean principles and techniques, including Alcoa, Boeing and Lockheed Martin in the manufacturing sector.

Odom said Lean and Six Sigma tools can help an organization better define the quality standard required by the customer.

When Lean and Six Sigma is applied correctly by an organization, it is generally able to reduce costs by 50 percent or more by reducing waste, understanding the customer’s requirements and improving delivery and quality, Odom said.

Humility of Mary Health Partners in the Mahoning Valley uses Six Sigma, Odom said.

Other organizations that use it are Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Bank One. Federal departments such as the Army and Navy use Six Sigma, and the city of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Odom said Lean eliminates waste caused by:

UTrying to add more value to a service than what the customer wants.

UMoving products or information unnecessarily.

UMoving people unnecessarily.

UAny delay between the end of one process and the beginning of another.

UAny aspect of service that does not conform to the customer’s needs.

UProduction of service or products beyond what is needed for immediate use.

UToo much, too little or inaccurate information.

Engstrom said some of the greatest improvements in productivity come when various departments across an organization work together.