RAF MILDENHALL, England – -- One priority for the Air Force is innovation, with innovation the Air Force is able to develop into a smarter, faster and more lethal force.
Continuous Process Improvement was put in place to help spark innovation within squadrons by not only making them better, but also leaner by completing tasks with less resources.
Innovation also increases operational capabilities while reducing associated costs by applying proven techniques to all processes associated with fulfilling the Air Force mission.
“I’m here to teach,” said Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Holdenried, 100th Air Refueling Wing CPI program manager. “I’m here to help you find ways to make things better.”
The Yellow Belt course is not just for Airmen; the 100th Air Refueling Wing offered this training, for the first time, to military spouses from both RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath.
Holdenried incorporated CPI and Lean Six Sigma methods to teach spouses methods that can help them at work, as well as their personal life.
“I took this class to help at work,” said Shannon Weeks, military spouse. “I think if you work or are even a key spouse it is important to break things down and make things easier in the process.”
In addition to slide presentations, the class also completed practical exercises to build their skills on becoming leaner and improving their own individual processes, based on Lean principles and methods, including improving flow and reducing waste within a process.
Whether you are an Airmen looking to improve a process in the workshop or a spouse looking to save time and get things done more efficiently and effectively in your personal life, CPI and the Six Sigma method can help reduce waste.
“Improvement is all the same language,” said Holdenried. “Whether you speak to someone from Nairobi, Japan or US, the language is the same when it comes to being lean.”
With innovation and improvement in mind, Yellow Belt Training keeps Airmen and spouses effective while making steps toward the Air Force of the future.