Town of Clarence
After a nearly year-long search for the right provider, TCIE was chosen to introduce continuous improvement to the Town of Clarence, a Western New York municipality of 28,700 residents, in 2009. Research on Lean Six Sigma (LSS) convinced town leaders that the methodology could save money and improve the effectiveness of a government operating on a $20 million budget. LSS is working. In addition to monetary savings, it is empowering town employees to influence processes, leading to a greater sense of ownership and pride.
- Educated 20 of approximately 100 full-time town employees – including elected officials, department heads, and blue and white collar members of the workforce – in LSS basics
- Trained four employees in the DMAIC methodology through the certified Green Belt course, preparing them to manage mid-level improvement projects and assist in data collection and analysis for larger, more comprehensive projects
- Increased facility rental revenues by $8,000 in 2010, with rising savings anticipated in subsequent years
- Saved $30,000 annually by outsourcing greenhouse management and purchasing plants from a vendor
- Accelerated site plan and development plan review processes to save approximately $3,500 to $5,000 for each of the 10 estimated projects per year
- Revealed energy efficiency upgrades that are expected to save nearly $16,500 annually
Project ROI
How do we measure the impact of projects? It’s a mix of tangible, quantifiable savings with the more elusive “soft savings” – such as cost avoidance and improved customer satisfaction.