The Reserve Support Unit gathered at the Consolidated Bachelors Quarters building here Dec. 7 to attend a Continuous Process Improvement “Yellow Belt” class.
CPI is a class that teaches corporations how to improve quality of service, productivity, morale, teamwork, communications and customer satisfaction.
The Yellow Belt class instructors taught basic techniques to improve the unit’s work flow for Marine Corps purposes.
“It taught us to be proactive instead of reactive,” said Cpl. Andrew Hagar, an administration specialist with the RSU. “We need to look for problems before they happen.”
Marines learned how to improve their work flow by performing several exercises with legos during the class. One group of Marines acted as a manufacturing company while other Marines acted as customers during one exercise. The manufacturing group had to build lego structures in a certain pattern, then send it to the customers. The customers sent back the legos if the manufacturers built them incorrectly.
The final exercise showed how much the Marines improved in the process by not having any of the customers send the legos back.
“Using the legos is a very simple way to show how different techniques can improve work processes,” said Hagar.
The two-day brief ended with the Marines graduating and the instructors awarding them certificates.
“You can make a difference in your work environment,” said Kimberly Reath, a CPI black belt instructor. “We’re not asking you to change the Marine Corps. We just want you to change your work environment.”
There are other classes Marines can take following the yellow belt class including green and black belt classes, which go further in depth on improvement processes.
“This class could benefit any [Military Occupational Specialty] in the Marine Corps,” said Sgt. Shree Taylor, an administration specialist with the RSU. “It applies to any job because every job has a working process that can improve.”
The RSU Marines continue to ensure their work flow improves to maintain efficiency for the Marine Corps.
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