Originally Published 3.28.2017

MAKATI CITY, Philippines - On January 23, 2017, Personiv Operations Head - Digital Fulfillment, Kelly Liwanag, received his Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification together with the whole Personiv management committee, after reducing the average processing time of design works in web production from 6.5 hours to an average of 5.1 hours. Not only were they able to save time, but on the client side, the team was also able to identify a projected annualized FTE expense savings of 108,720.00 USD or approximately P5,440,240.08.

"It was difficult at the beginning. Although we already have the data available in production, we have not used it to target specific areas for improvement. It required the commitment of the whole group to be able to conduct the study properly and achieve the desired goal." - Kelly Liwanag, CSSGB

To get in-depth details, and tips, and learn more about how Kelly's Project, all you need to do is keep scrolling down and read the rest of the article for our one-on-one interview with Mr. Liwanag himself.

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Q. What prompted you to take the Lean Six Sigma Workshop?

A. This is a company initiative that aims to bring about a major improvement in how we handle each line of business or business unit assigned to us. We took the Yellow Belt certification with the Operations Supervisors and Operations Manager first and advanced to the Green Belt certification afterward. For the Green Belt certification, only the members of the man comm participated.

Q. What Prompted you to start your project?

A. My unit has several processes and I feel there’s a lot of opportunity for the core process which is web designing and proofreading. If we can improve our processing time, we can be more efficient and do more than our regular productivity rate.

Q. What was your project about?

A. My project title is Reduction of Average Processing Time of Design (BAU) Works in Web Production. Since my unit fails to meet our standard SLA per website, this was a very good opportunity for us to improve.

Q. What was it like for you, starting up and executing your own project?

A. It was difficult at the beginning. Although we already have the data available in production, we have not used it to target specific areas for improvement. It required the commitment of the whole group to be able to conduct the study properly and achieve the desired goal.

Q. What were the results of your project?

A. We were able to remove unnecessary steps in our process and improve our processing time. After 6 months of conducting the project, the turnaround time for the design process reduced significantly from >6.5 hours to an average of 5.1 hours.

Q. What was the impact of your project on your company?

A. Internally, we were able to save time and work more efficiently by removing processes that pad our processing time. With this, we can do more things with the saved time. On the client side, I was able to identify an approximate annualized FTE expense savings of $ 108,720.00

"That's one reason why companies give high value to Certified Lean Six Sigma individuals. One does not just attend a program and receive his certification but has to successfully apply and show proper use of tools and methodology with actual work processes. One has to earn his Lean Six Sigma certification,"-Rex Tuozo, “The Six Sigma Guy” 

Q. What was the impact of being a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt on you as an individual?

A. The major impact for me is work efficiency.

Q. What would be your message to those who are currently taking/planning to take the Green Belt Program or those who are currently conducting their own projects?

A. Time is an investment. If you are handling a large group and you will study something like this, it would be challenging to complete if no particular timeline is defined. There are processes inside the Green Belt program that are very useful for managing daily production work. I was able to absorb best practices along the way that I can use in managing the team on a daily basis.

​To be certified in Lean Six Sigma, one has to complete an actual Lean Six Sigma project and apply process improvement tools, methodology, and techniques learned in class. "That's one reason why companies give high value to Certified Lean Six Sigma individuals. One does not just attend a program and receive his certification but has to successfully apply and show proper use of tools and methodology with actual work processes. One has to earn his Lean Six Sigma certification," Tuozo said. "If you attend our Lean Six Sigma programs, unlike other training providers, you get continuous support after the program, for no additional cost. You'll be assigned a Black Belt to help you complete your project," Tuozo added.

"If you attend our Six Sigma programs, unlike other training providers, you get continuous support after the program, for no additional cost. You'll be assigned a Black Belt to help you complete your project," –Rex Tuozo, “The Six Sigma Guy"

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