International Team Excellence Award

Case Studies

Texas District Uses Peer Assessments to Measure Scorecard Achievement (PDF, 194 KB)
The Aldine Independent School District’s peer review assessment model has received state and national recognition as a best practice for performance improvement. The model helps the district gauge the level of deployment for strategic goals, objectives, and action plans.
October 2009.

Optimizing Purchasing Processes Saves $1 Million (PDF, 258 KB)
Can a change in purchasing processes for the most basic manufacturing components, like bolts, actually lead to $1 million in savings? For an MWM INTERNATIONAL Motores Six Sigma improvement team, the answer is a resounding yes.
July 2009

Three improvement teams from the Singapore Housing and Development Board (HDB) qualified as finalists in ASQ’s 2008 International Team Excellence Award process.
June 2009

R. L. Polk & Co.: Making Every Issue the Only Issue (PDF, 191 KB)
Annual customer surveys for R. L. Polk & Co. identified opportunities for improvement in customer contact and issue resolution. By following the same steps for every issue and performing full root cause analysis for 100 percent of issues, Polk increased operational excellence and improved customer satisfaction.
February 2009.

Improving Productivity Through Lean Six Sigma Warehouse Design (PDF, 190 KB)
A Lean Six Sigma improvement team at New Breed Logistics employed quality tools such as value stream mapping, PICK charts, and the 5 Whys to increase product flow and meet customers’ packaging requirements. As a result, overtime decreased by 30 percent, productivity increased 5 percent, shipping accuracy reached 100 percent, and customer satisfaction improved, leading to additional business.
February 2009.

Medical Device Manufacturer's Continuous Improvement Approach Reduces Errors in Records (PDF, 236 KB)
Using a three-tiered approach that included technology-, process-, and people-related solutions, MEDRAD reduced errors in product history records by 26 percent.
February 2009.

Streamlined Enrollment Nets Big Results for Healthcare Leader (PDF, 193 KB)
Kaiser Permanente Colorado used Lean Six Sigma to evaluate and improve Medicaid enrollment processes. A three-month project resulted in a 45 percent gain in Medicaid membership while increasing Medicaid revenue by more than $1 million annually.
January 2009.

Contacts That Count (PDF, 205 KB)
Instant online access for ASQ members and subscribers.
A process improvement team used Lean Six Sigma tools to improve member contact rates by 65% at a healthcare support company. The effort earned the team a silver award in ASQ’s International Team Excellence competition.
January 2009.

On the Right Track: Rail Company Reduces Expenses with Six Sigma (PDF, 182 KB)
An improvement team at rail company CSX Transportation qualified as a finalist for ASQ’s 2008 International Team Excellence Award with a project focusing on train and engine expenses and accuracy in employee pay. The Six Sigma project led to annual savings of $1.4 million, with further reductions in waste resulting in $5.1 million in savings in 2007.  
September 2008.

Incredible Journey (PDF, 406 KB)
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To eradicate injury rates and workers’ compensation costs, a Boeing C-17 team embarked on a world-class safety journey. Brainstorming, benchmarking and fishbone diagrams helped identify root causes and the solution.
June 2008. 

It All Ties Together (PDF, 541 KB)
A locomotive company refused to sit idly by, knowing a significant amount of diesel fuel was being wasted. Using quality tools, a company team found a way to conserve fuel and save millions of dollars. The team earned the Bronze Award at the 2007 International Team Excellence Competition.
May 2008.

A Gold Medal Solution (PDF, 148 KB)
Instant online access for ASQ members and subscribers
Boeing's C-17 stuffed tailcone team took home a prize for eradicating unsafe working conditions. The final solution eliminated safety hazards and reduced budget hours by more than 300%
March 2008.

Quality Tools, Teamwork Lead Boeing Team to a System Redesign (PDF, 191 KB)
A team from Boeing, as well as members of the Air Force and suppliers, worked to fix the C-17's inert gas generating system that previously needed constant repairs. The outcome was a 7,400% increase in system reliability and reduced initialization time.  The group was one of three teams to earn a silver medal in the 2007 International Team Excellence Competition.
November 2007.

Agency Files Away Inefficiency, Saves Taxpayers a Bundle (PDF, 228 KB)
One of the three silver medal winners in the 2007 International Team Excellence Competition created a solution that has the potential to save Florida taxpayers more than $18 million over time.
October 2007.

Employees Fuel Productivity Gains, Enhanced Service at U.S.–Japan Shipyards
This collection of case studies highlights several successful quality-improvement initiatives at the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) Yokosuka and its Sasebo detachment. Using quality tools and techniques, workers have made significant improvements to many key processes and facilities.
April 2007.

Siemens VDO Optimizes Processes Using Six Sigma (PDF, 185 KB)
Six Sigma is one of five pillars supporting the Siemens VDO quality strategy. The company earned global recognition for its use of Six Sigma when one project team earned the Bronze Award in the 2006 International Team Excellence Award competition.
February 2007.

Case Study: Reliance Industries Limited Wins Team Excellence Award Competition (PDF, 262 KB)
See how a team from India used quality tools to reduce waste and production costs while creating a cleaner environment.
November 2006.

Regional Team Approach Helps Energy Company Enhance Safety, Avoid Costs (PDF, 165 KB)
Xcel Energy’s Denver operation reduced accidents by 48% in one year and saved the company an estimated $714,000 over a 24-month period.
August 2006.

Baxter International Wins Team Excellence Award Competition (PDF, 126 KB)
Implementation of Lean techniques results in more than 70% improvement in overall cycle time.
Summer 2005.

2005 Gold Winner - Baxter International Case Study (PDF, 575 KB)

2005 Silver Winner - Reliance Industries Case Study (PDF, 288 KB)

2005 Bronze Winner - United Space Alliance Case Study (PDF, 137 KB)

Fidelity Wide Processing Wins Team Excellence Award Competition (PDF, 103 KB)
Continuous improvement journey boosts profits while fostering employee engagement.
Summer 2004.