CONTACTS
 |
March 09 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine Improvements turn tide on glovebox work
Michael Cournoyer, a recently certified Lean Six Sigma yellow belt, tests the passive glovebox glove leak detector at Technical Area 55. Photo by Dixon Wolf
When a large wave comes at you, Michael Cournoyer believes you either jump on it and enjoy the ride of your life or get smothered. A research and development scientist in Technical Area 55 Operations, Cournoyer recently went for the ride-using Lean Six Sigma as his surfboard. Cournoyer's process improvement project findings not only led to improved cycle time for glovebox glove disposal, but to the design of a more ergonomically favorable glovebox glove. They also prompted the retrofitting of gloveports with push-through technology to improve the glove change process and reduce unplanned glove openings. Time saved by glovebox workers as a result of his analyses approaches 25 percent, cost savings uncovered equates to $25,800 per year, and transuranic mixed-waste generation is reduced from 4.5 to 1.5 cubic meters. The Lean Six Sigma project also consolidated procedures, which lessens associated administrative work. "The most rewarding Lean Six Sigma experience was the genuine look of interest from my upper management when I completed my Yellow Belt Certification presentation," he said. Cournoyer's work, it turns out, definitely piqued management's interest. "Michael's work demonstrates the effectiveness of Lean Six Sigma on the science side of the house," said Mike Mallory, principal associate director for Business and Operations. "His efforts not only improved the Lab's glovebox processes, they increased safety in the form of ergonomic injuries." Certification as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt is but the latest achievement for this Purdue University graduate who holds a doctorate in theoretical organic chemistry. He has received several Pollution Prevention Awards, 1995 and 2007 Distinguished Performance Awards, a 2006 DOE P2 Award, 1995 R&D 100 Award, and his most prized possession, a 1997 LANL Outstanding Mentor award. Cournoyer is now employing LSS tools for the Technical Area 55 facility operations director metrics and the Institutional Dashboard Metric. "Los Alamos National Security, LLC is taking the Lab in a new direction," he said. "Applying Lean Six Sigma tools contributes to this direction, and I wanted to be a part of this paradigm shift." --Mig Owens Other Headlines
|
Issues
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
