A lean six sigma approach for improving university campus office moves

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to improve the quoting, scheduling, invoicing and paying for campus office moves at a university. The Lean Six Sigma project goal was to improve the campus office move process by making it less complicated, free-up program managers’ time and pay the vendor on time.

Design/methodology/approach

The team used the Lean Six Sigma Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control methodology to improve the process.

Findings

The average time from the campus move to when the invoice was paid improved by 27%, with an improved median of 16%. The standard deviation was greatly reduced by 51%. The average invoiced date to paid date remained statistically the same, and the median increased from 20 to 30 days, due to a policy change to move the target from 20 to 30 days. The standard deviation of the invoice to paid date was greatly reduced by 38%. This was a successful project because the sponsors were on-board from the beginning and included the process owners in the improvement effort.

Originality/value

Other higher education institutions or other industry areas with a similar process can implement this methodology and processes outlined in this case study to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness and as a guide for improving other processes within institutions.

Citation

Wheeler-Webb, J. and Furterer, S.L. (2019), "A lean six sigma approach for improving university campus office moves", International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 928-947. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-04-2018-0042