Case Study: United States Army reduces HR process cycle time with Minitab

U.S. Army Improving HR Processes with Minitab

The United States Army needed to shorten a slow, inconsistent MOS/Medical Retention Board (MMRB) process that determined whether soldiers could remain in their assigned roles, move to a new MOS, or leave the service. With average cycle times of 61 days and some cases taking up to 400 days, the Army turned to Minitab Statistical Software to help its Lean Six Sigma team analyze the process and identify causes of delay.

Using Minitab, the Army applied DMAIC tools such as process mapping, ANOVA, Pareto charts, multi-vari charts, capability analysis, and control charts to pinpoint documentation errors and unit-to-unit variation, then validate a redesigned centralized process called MAR2. As a result, Minitab helped the Army cut average cycle time to 29 days, reduce documentation errors from 30% to less than 1%, lower DPMO from 516,129 to 75,758, save more than 74,800 staff hours annually, and generate an estimated $15.3 million in yearly savings.

United States Army

Shane Wentz

Project Team Leader