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Return to Article: Deep-Sixing Waste

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  Unfortunately, the administration and congress are unwilling to look at what could really save the tax payers millions of dollars. The ever increasing number of political appointees below the cabinet secretary level is an unusual and extreme burden on agencies and the taxpayer to pay for the vetting, clearance and eventual appointment of these individuals. Also, an incredible amount of money is potentially wasted as the administration and the political appointees turn over and acting managers either delay or do not take action. Until the over 8,000 political and special appointment positions are reviewed the administration, congress and the taxpayer will continue to waste millions and potentially billions of dollars ever year on political positions.

  Seen It Before Posted November 3, 2009 11:56 AM
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  LSS is a good idea in principle, but so were prior versions of the same ideas, nothing new here. The problem is that the "savings" are often fictional or based on projects that could have just been done, and the "improved" processes are based on politics. Those with prior experience with Quality who could be more useful are often displaced by favorites.

  Ed S Posted November 3, 2009 11:50 AM
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  Anyone remember Total Quality Management from the 80s and 90s? All the billions that were spent in training and implementation went down the rat hole. Its very simple, don't hire managers and supervisors into positions they are not experienced to handle. L6S is another TQM with employee involvement because we all know that employees know management and processes better than those supervisors and managers who have been hired for that purpose.

  Dennisd Posted October 29, 2009 5:01 AM
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  "It gave staff at the mid-level -- the GS-13s and 14s -- ownership of the process and of the data," Turco says. "That has been the most positive outcome. They now understand how their actions affect their customers."

  This comment alone in the article speaks volumes about the real problems. If the "staff at the mid-level" (GS-13s and 14s) had to have Lean Six Sigma to figure out how their actions affect their customers, cutting waste from processes is the least of our problems.

  Brad Crawford Posted October 28, 2009 4:15 PM
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  When pigs fly then I will believe this! Pap pure pap!

  rooster Posted October 28, 2009 2:20 PM
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  LS6 just another name for Management should be doing every day! It is the responsibility of the MANAGER to manage effectively. LS6 requires employee input - sounds like Union involvement on methods and technology. LS6 offers the big wigs an opportunity to go to another workshop, seminar, etc just to learn what they were supposed to be doing in the first place.

  Employee - Army Posted October 28, 2009 9:50 AM
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  This is such (SUCH) a joke--there is so much waste in the Defense Department, it is sickening to think about. Warehouses full of rusted barbed wire, enough to circle the globe, what? 10 times, money spent so they would be obligated closer to their budget (and not penalized by Congress which thinks coming in under an appropriation is cause to take money from the next year--given the Defense Department's huge "fat" spending sprees, maybe this isn't a bad idea after all.) Why doesn't someone just eliminate SpaWar, up here in DC, it is a gigantic overhead component simply structured to add costs to contracts in order to make payroll. Contracts become two or three times more expensive AND there is NO value added by these lame personnel being paid. First hand story on this--take a look at the VA benefits contract...gigantic riduculous expenses. Cut SpaWar, period, it is an unnecessary overhead expense. And every time I turn around the civilian workforce of the Defense Department is off the day ahead of a Federal holiday? The day ahead of a ship that is commissioned, off for picnics, off, off, off....way off budget. This slick little Sigma crap is a smoke screen. They aren't even trying...oh and audit? They can't find their tanks...maybe one less picnic and a little more internal control training.

  DSW Posted October 28, 2009 8:42 AM
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  L6S's implementation is a farce. It is just another window dressing program.

  I worked in TQM years ago. I volunteered for L6S but was put out the day before the training started. I was replaced by a command favorite.

  Wise Old Owl Posted October 28, 2009 8:02 AM