TARBORO – Three Heritage Hospital employees recently received their certification for Lean Six Sigma Green Belt: Laboratory Manager Julie Allard, Director of Quality Programs Sherrill Beaman and Quality Improvement Coordinator Bonnie Walker.

Lean Six Sigma uses techniques to integrate principles of business, statistics, waste reduction and engineering to achieve tangible results. Mastering the use of Lean Six Sigma allows participants to quantify the critical quality issues.

Once issues have been quantified, Lean and Six Sigma analysis, including statistics can be applied to provide probabilities of success and failure.

Lean and Six Sigma methods are meant to increase an organization’s productivity and enhance quality.

“Six Sigma is designed to help us dive deeper into processes in order to improve quality,” said Bonnie Walker, quality improvement coordinator at Heritage Hospital. “The knowledge that we obtained will be very helpful with problem solving here at the hospital by using proven scientific methodology.

“The project we completed during our study was on a hospital process, and a significant improvement was obtained. These tools will help us with many more projects in the future I’m sure.”

Lean Six Sigma Green Belts are equipped to support and champion Lean Six Sigma implementation within their organization.

To earn the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, one must complete the Lean Six Sigma course, complete a Green Belt project approved by a Master Black Belt, and pass the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.

“Lean Six Sigma enabled the Laboratory and Emergency Department to work together to improve the quality of specimens being received by the lab, reducing the need to retest,” Allard said.

Allard, Beaman and Walker all completed their course work at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro.