Posted 12:09 am Thursday, June 14, 2012
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City Reaches Goal With Streamlined Savings
Tyler reached a financial goal, saving millions through its Lean Sigma Program, officials announced Wednesday.
The estimated $2.4 million in hard and soft dollar savings was created through the city's Lean Sigma Program, which focuses on streamlining processes to produce certain hard and soft savings.
Forty-five projects have been completed so far by city employees trained in the methodology, officials said.
"Lean Sigma helps identify the waste and variation that occurs in everyday processes," Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass said in a prepared statement. "The program provides a structured approach for improving efficiency -- which saves both time and money."
The city originally launched its Lean Sigma Program in 2009 with the hiring of an efficiency expert, called a Lean Sigma Master Black Belt.
Within the city, there are 123 blue belts, who received four hours of training; 29 green belts, 80 hours; and seven black belts, 160 hours.
The Lean Sigma program is rooted in the Toyota Production System and by Motorola, two companies that strive to improve efficiency by reducing waste.
Employees trained in the Lean Sigma methodology work on projects in conjunction with their normal job duties.
"All of our green belts and black belts have completed at least two Lean Sigma projects that are focused on improving a city process, saving the city either time or money," the mayor said. "Many other city employees have participated on project teams that put improvement into the hands of those most familiar with the process -- our front line employees."
Projects completed thus far revolve around the reduction of vehicle part inventory, management of chemical usage at the water treatment plants, reductions in overtime and improving ways to collect refuse.
Lean Sigma was a logical step in Tyler's long history of continuous improvement that began with the city's Blueprint and continued with Business Planning, the Tyler Apprentice Program, Tyler 21, and City University, officials said.
Tyler is one of only a few cities in the nation to implement Lean Sigma throughout their entire municipal organization.
"In the last few years, Tyler, like most of the nation, experienced tough economic times," City Manager Mark McDaniel said. "Decreasing sales tax revenue and stagnant property values led us on a journey to work even more efficiently. I believe our results speak for themselves."
