Lean Sigma at Williams Advanced MaterialsWilliams has launched its Lean Sigma program at a time when company performance is at a record pace. Staying on top and being successful, in a highly competitive environment takes a corporate-wide program of this nature. Dick Sager, President & CEO of Williams, gave his vision for the Customer-focused Lean Sigma effort:
"So that we can ensure that Williams will continually provide greater value to our Customers and shareholders, we have embarked on a Lean Sigma continuous improvement program as a strategic initiative for 2007 and beyond. WAM will employ the Lean Sigma process as a systematic tool designed to analyze and implement opportunities for increased efficiency in all areas of our rapidly growing business."
The Green Belt program includes extensive training, and hands-on activities, in both Lean and Six Sigma methods, with some of the topics typically taught at a Black Belt level of proficiency. The current group of candidates represents about 10% of Williams workforce and is currently working on over a dozen projects. The projects represent the diverse nature of William's processes, including: PVD thin film materials for precious and non precious metal sputtering targets, evaporation and inorganic materials, microelectronic packaging materials, medical device components, and internal business systems. The portfolio of projects is comprised of a balance of short and medium term efforts that focus on both the efficiency/effectiveness of internal operations and the external needs of the global Customer base. The long-term, sustainable, goal of the Lean Sigma program is to get all Williams employees exposed to the tools, so they can understand how to contribute and add value.
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