title: Performance excellence: using Lean Six Sigma tools to improve the US Army behavioral health surveillance process, boost team morale, and maximize value to customers and stakeholders.
abstract: Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a process improvement, problem-solving methodology used in business and manufacturing to improve the speed, quality, and cost of products. LSS can also be used to improve knowledge-based products integral to public health surveillance. An LSS project by the Behavioral Social Health Outcomes Program of the Army Institute of Public Health reduced the number of labor hours spent producing the routine surveillance of suicidal behavior publication. At baseline, the total number of labor hours was 448; after project completion, total labor hours were 199. Based on customer feedback, publication production was reduced from quarterly to annually. Process improvements enhanced group morale and established best practices in the form of standard operating procedures and business rules to ensure solutions are sustained. LSS project participation also fostered a change in the conceptualization of tasks and projects. These results demonstrate that LSS can be used to inform the public health process and should be considered a viable method of improving knowledge-based products and processes.
authors: US Army Public Health Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
authors: Eren Youmans
authors: EY
authors: Watkins
authors: Dave M
authors: DM
authors: Kemeter
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Spiess
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Corrigan
authors: Keri
authors: K
authors: Kateley
authors: John V
authors: JV
authors: Wills
authors: Brent Edward
authors: BE
authors: Mancha
authors: Jerrica
authors: J
authors: Nichols
authors: Amy Millikan
authors: AM
authors: Bell
mesh_terms: D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007324:Institutional Management Teams; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009013:Morale; D009874:Operations Research; D011340:Problem Solving; D011592:Psychology, Military / Q000458:organization & administration; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D000092864:Suicide Prevention