Eight Western New Yorkers Graduate from Green Belt Program at UB's TCIE

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) at the University at Buffalo has awarded certificates to the first graduates of its Green Belt Blended Learning Program, which combines e-learning and classroom-based education.

To become certified, individuals had to pass an exam and complete a Six Sigma project for their companies.

The Green Belt program is the first step in the Six Sigma methodology, one of the most popular quality-management programs in the corporate workplace, aimed at virtually eliminating defects from processes in manufacturing and service organizations.

Students in the Green Belt Blended Learning program at TCIE were exposed to the fundamentals of Six Sigma systems, as well as the principles and concepts of quality management.

Graduates are: Daniel Bryan of Hamburg, quality assurance manager/network systems administrator at Packstar; Nora Eberl of Buffalo, controller at Eberl Iron Works, Inc.; Tracy Hewett of Kenmore, customer service manager at DENT Neurologic Institute; Shomari James of Williamsville, Empire District industrial engineering supervisor at United Parcel Service; Lorri Kogut of Hamburg, hospital nursing services consultant in the Hospital/Primary Care and Emergency Medical Services programs of the New York State Department of Health; Louise Lougen of Buffalo, management information specialist at the University at Buffalo; Daniel Mania of Orchard Park, director of corporate security and aviation at Delaware North Companies; and Heidi Milch of Cheektowaga, executive director of Community Connections of New York.

In addition to the Blended Learning program, TCIE also offers a traditional Green Belt certification program, with 72 hours of classroom training.

For more information about Green Belt certification, call TCIE at 636-2568 or email klynch4@buffalo.edu.

TCIE provides a dynamic link between UB's technical resources and the business community. A program of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, TCIE fosters partnerships and manages projects as diverse as the region's businesses. For more information on how TCIE can assist Western New York businesses, go to http://www.tcie.buffalo.edu.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.