Page 296 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

QFS MISSION STATEMENT:
The Peterson Quest for Success Team was formed as a catalyst for continuous improvement and aims to cultivate an envi- ronment for change, growth and profitability. Relying on facts and data helps drive sustainable solutions as the Quest for Success Team strives for a better Peterson. Projects harness the unique skills, strong work ethic and constructive attitude of Peterson employees thereby improving core processes and the quality of our customer service. Our target is to strength- en Peterson from the inside in order to grow and maintain success in the future.
Quest for Success Team - March 2009
WHAT IS SIX SIGMA?
Six Sigma is a process improvement tool used to evaluate and refine current business practices. In effect, it ensures that the way things are currently being done is, in fact, the best way possible and not just because we’ve always done it that way. Each of the five phases—Define, Measure, Analyze, Im- prove, and Control—are carried out by a team of green belts and subject matter experts (SMEs), led by a Caterpillar-certified Six Sigma black belt. The team meets two to three times a week to discuss their project and push it forward. At the end of
Mark Ehni, Peterson’s original Six Sigma deployment champion
each phase, the group presents its project before the leadership team to ensure that they’re on track and that the results will be strong enough to justify the resources being dedicated.
BECOMING A SIX SIGMA BLACK BELT
Training to become a Six Sigma black belt is both intense and rewarding. It involves four months of immersion training both at Caterpillar’s train- ing facility and at the dealership. “Participants go through a week-long class on each phase,” explains Ehni, “where you learn the philosophy and logic behind it all—the academics. Then you go back to your dealership and apply what you learned to a live project for three weeks.” At the end of the four months, participants graduate as Caterpillar-certi- fied black belts.
“This is a very cool job,” says Sorgel. “Black belts get exposed to a lot of things that most people don’t get to see. They get a good overall view of the company—how it works and how everything fits together. We try to make every project they work
294 | PETERSON: 85 YEARS AND GOING STRONG