Green Belt program certifies McConnell Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman Jenna K. Caldwell
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Thirty two members of Team McConnell graduated a Green Belt beginners course Feb. 25.

The Green Belt course, a Continuous Process Improvement program, teaches Air Force members problem solving techniques that help increase overall productivity and efficiency of the base. This is the first time the course has been offered here in over a year and a half.

"There are all kinds of impact from this course: cost, energy, work and manpower savings all around," said Bill Nash, 22nd Force Support Squadron wing process manager.

In the 40 hour course, students received instructions on strategic alignment, process mapping, root cause analysis and other principles that help streamline base operations, get rid of waste and make existing programs run smoother.

Once the green belt facilitators are initially trained, they head back to their unit to identify any process disconnects. As they develop strategies to solve issues that may exist, they pass along the skills they've learned to the people they work with.

"At some point I don't want this to be a program anymore, I want it to be the way we think--a culture," said Darla Kelly, Air Mobility Command process improvement coach, "A logical attack of problem solving with a constant cycle of improvement will make us all more efficient."  

The Green Belt is simply the beginner's level certification for the CPI program, while additional certification training awards students with a black belt.