草榴社区 (UAH) Office for Operational Excellence (OOE) has a role in a recently funded program to integrate additive manufacturing into the United States Army and pilot an additive manufacturing-based supply chain.

Small to medium sized businesses can get the information, education and support they need to comply with new Dept. of Defense (DoD) information security protocols through the Alabama Cybersecurity Coaching, Education and Support Services (ACCESS) program.

UAH research scientists Joe Paxton and Brian Tucker, center, receive a certificate of appreciation from the TMG team, comprising (l-r) Christi Jackson, Marshall Grenier, Lenny Nitcavic, Daniel Price, Ken Brewer, and Doug Knowles.

Michael Mercier | UAH

At a ceremony held Dec. 14 at 草榴社区 (UAH), representatives from Madison-based defense manufacturer  (TMG) presented certificates of appreciation to Joe Paxton and Brian Tucker, research scientists with UAH鈥檚 Office for Operational Excellence (OOE). The pair was recognized for their efforts to help TMG implement a value stream mapping event to reduce the time from new contract award to product shipment, resulting in increased efficiency and competitiveness.

The TMG team spoke highly of the OOE鈥檚 expertise in mapping, analyzing, and improving supply chains; its ability to develop and apply continuous improvement techniques; and its flexibility in tackling enterprise-level challenges.

鈥淭hrough the OOE team鈥檚 expertise in value stream mapping, we have recognized operational improvements that will ultimately impact our bottom line,鈥� said Daniel Price, director of strategy for TMG. 鈥淭he team was knowledgeable, professional, and eager to assist us in identifying solutions to eliminate inefficiencies and maximize our performance.鈥�

Continue Reading

September, 2017

Another 20 Huntsville Hospital System healthcare providers participated in the UAH Lean Healthcare Academy in 2017. Participants in the course included personnel from multiple locations in the Huntsville Hospital system.

The five-day course, which is provided by the UAH Lean Healthcare Program with trainers from the Office for Operational Excellence, is a combination of lecture and hands-on simulations covering topics such as introduction to lean concepts in healthcare, workplace organization, continuous flow, problem solving, root cause analysis, pull systems, quick changeover, value stream mapping and continuous improvement implementation.

After attending the interactive training sessions, participants began working
together on teams to identify improvement projects and then used the tools and concepts from the course to implement improvements. Upon the completion of the team projects, participants can obtain over 28 CEU or CME credits.

UAH Lean Healthcare Program has certified over 140 personnel at Huntsville Hospital through the UAH Lean Healthcare Academy.

What participants are saying:

This training will be very beneficial to every part of my job.

Most week-long training classes are grueling, but these instructors made the week fun, hands-on, and useful

UAH-OOE provides on-site business, technical and management support, training and program management.  The OOE staff are full-time, non-academic experts with vast experience in continuous improvement, human resource management, quality systems management, supply chain management and other business and engineering disciplines.  This expertise is leveraged to assist organizations in achieving operational excellence in Planning, Processes, and Products/Services through development of People and conservation of the Planet. 

August 23, 2017

Innova Primary Care had their Ribbon Cutting with the Huntsville Madison County Chamber today, August 23 to celebrate their new clinic.

There were several key components that were taken into account when designing the new medical clinic. The concepts and principles of a Patient Centered Medical Home played a significant role in the design and layout of the new building for Innova Primary Care.

The facility incorporates LEAN principles from studies conducted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville Office for Operational Excellence to create a highly efficient and technology driven clinic.

Our work with UAH aided the transformation of our clinic to a more highly efficient and patient-centered space.

-David Uptegrafft, Strategy Director

David Uptagrafft, Strategy Director commented, 鈥淥ur work with UAH aided the transformation of our clinic to a more highly efficient and patient-centered space. We look forward to utilizing our new facility to push the envelope and innovate healthcare delivery for our region.鈥�

The new location for Innova Primary Care has four times the amount of space than their previous location. The increased size of the clinic brings the need to be able to locate healthcare equipment, providers, as well as staff members throughout the day.

UAH-OOE provides on-site business, technical and management support, training and program management.  The OOE staff are full-time, non-academic experts with vast experience in continuous improvement, human resource management, quality systems management, supply chain management and other business and engineering disciplines.  This expertise is leveraged to assist organizations in achieving operational excellence in Planning, Processes, and Products/Services through development of People and conservation of the Planet. 

July 27, 2017

Huntsville Hospital鈥檚 Medical Intensive Care Unit is getting closer to its goal of zero infections.

Last week, Director Regina Wilder provided a Chick-fil-A breakfast to thank her staff for working to eliminate central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).

Despite treating some of the sickest patients at the hospital, the unit has gone eight months without a CAUTI and made it almost a year 鈥� from July 2016 until last month 鈥� without a central line infection.

Chief Medical Officer Robert Chappell, MD, attended the breakfast to present Regina with the hospital鈥檚 Quality Coin. Chief Nursing Officer Karol Jones and HH Health System Chief Operating Officer Jeff Samz were also on hand.  The MICU鈥檚 low infection rate 鈥渋s incredibly impressive,鈥� said Jeff, 鈥渁nd it makes our hospital a safer place for patients.鈥�

The low infection rate is incredibly impressive and it makes our hospital a safer place for patients.

-Jeff Samz, HH System Chief Operating Officer

 

How did they do it?
Regina said MICU caregivers are required to wear a surgical mask and gloves when accessing a patient's central line. The unit also uses port protector caps that are pre-treated with alcohol to help prevent infections, she said, and conducts daily audits to make sure each patient鈥檚 central line dressing is dry.

鈥淭o go 11 months without a CLABSI is pretty amazing considering how many patients we have with a central line,鈥� said Regina. 鈥淭he goal is zero infections, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檒l continue to work towards.鈥�

Regina recently completed the UAH Lean Healthcare Academy training and is currently working on implementing lean concepts learned during the class.  Other MICU staff have also completed the training and continue to improve operations in the unit.  Brian Buchman is another graduate of the Academy who leveraged the knowledge gained to implement best practices to reduce CLABSIs and CAUTIs a couple of years prior.

UAH Office for Operational Excellence provides on-site business, technical and management support, training and program management.  The OOE staff are full-time, non-academic experts with vast experience in continuous improvement, human resource management, quality systems management, supply chain management and other business and engineering disciplines.  This expertise is leveraged to assist organizations in achieving operational excellence in Planning, Processes, and Products/Services through development of People and conservation of the Planet. 

June 13, 2017

UAH OOE is currently working with the Alabama Military Stability Foundation to map the defense industrial base across Alabama, identify companies that are heavily depending on defense funding and provide services to strengthen those companies.  Similar efforts are underway in many other states with support from the Department of Defense Office for Economic Adjustment.  As part of the Alabama Defense Industry Diversification Analysis Project, OOE staff participated in a Learning Community in Denver Colorado in June to share best practices in supply chain and industrial base mapping.  Leveraging UAH鈥檚 vast experience with the Department of Defense community, the Alabama team was able to share effective and efficient practices to map supply chains with other teams from across the country.  Participants from 14 other states benefited from the workshop.

鈥淟everaging their vast experience with the Department of Defense community, the Alabama team was able to share effective and efficient practices to map supply chains.鈥�

草榴社区 is a research university with a long history of providing support to the Department of Defense. The Office for Operational Excellence supports multiple DoD organizations including Army Materiel Command (AMC), Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM), Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC), Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC).

Our Operational Excellence specialists support DoD by providing continuous organizational and process improvement through value stream mapping, workload modeling, industrial base sustainment, supply chain mapping and optimization, administrative and production lead time reduction, and business case analyses. 

July 25, 2017

As part of the Alabama Defense Industry Diversification Analysis Project, UAH OOE is working with Moseley Technical Services to provide quality management and business development support.  On July 25, Moseley Technical Services celebrated the rebranding of their company and receiving of the Lockheed Martin Elite Supplier Award.  Only the top 2% of Lockheed鈥檚 suppliers receive the prestigious award.  Congratulations to Jerry Moseley and the rest of the team!

UAH-OOE provides on-site business, technical and management support, training and program management.  The OOE staff are full-time, non-academic experts with vast experience in continuous improvement, human resource management, quality systems management, supply chain management and other business and engineering disciplines.  This expertise is leveraged to assist organizations in achieving operational excellence in Planning, Processes, and Products/Services through development of People and conservation of the Planet. 

Huntsville, AL

January 1, 2017

草榴社区 Office for Operational Excellence (UAH-OOE) has been selected as Phase II Program Manager for the Alabama Defense Industry Diversification Analysis Project (ADIDAP).  UAH-OOE is managing the program for the and the

鈥淭his program will provide better understanding of the Alabama industrial base that is vital to our US Department of Defense while also providing services to enhance its viability鈥� 

The U.S. Department of Defense, through its Office for Economic Adjustment (DoD-OEA), is funding this project to better map the defense industrial base supply chain in Alabama and provide diversification assistance to small and medium-sized businesses that support DoD operations.   

 The primary objectives of the program are to:

Develop tools that provide a better understanding of the industries, businesses and the workforce connected to DoD contracts,

Improve the resiliency of Alabama small and medium-sized businesses that support DoD operations.

For more information go to UAH.edu/OOE/ADIDAP 

What is ADIDAP?

The U.S. Department of Defense, through its Office for Economic Adjustment (DoD-OEA), is funding this project to better map the defense industrial base supply chain in Alabama and provide diversification assistance to small and medium-sized businesses that support DoD operations.

The UAH Office for Operational Excellence is managing the program for the Alabama Military Stability Foundation and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Project Objective

The primary objectives of the program are to:

• Develop tools that provide a better understanding of the industries, businesses and the workforce connected to DoD contracts.
• Improve the resiliency of Alabama small and medium-sized businesses that support DoD operations.

Market Expansion Services Available

As part of the ADIDAP program, qualifying Alabama businesses can receive market diversification services at no cost to their organization. These organizations that support the DoD may receive assistance in key areas including: strategic management planning; sales and marketing support; product or service development; quality systems and operational efficiency.

Types of Assistance include:

Contact UAH OOE for further questions and information.

Brian Tucker, Program Manager

256-824-2957 or brian.tucker@uah.edu

For more information see ADIDAP brochure or visit the