927th Leans Forward With AFSO21 Level II Certification

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane Huff
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing, Public Affairs Office
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Force Smart Ops For the 21st Century (AFSO21) is an improvement model customized to the unique environment of the United States Air Force which leverages improvement methods from various sources such as: Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints and Business Process Reengineering.  AFSO21 is a transformational initiative empowering all Airmen to eliminate waste from every end-to-end process.  It is about delivery of warfighting capabilities today and tomorrow. 

As part of it's strategic focus on supporting infrastructure, the 927th Air Refueling Wing recently sent Maj. Bruce M. Winhold to attend a 12 day AFSO21 Level II academic course held at The University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education in Knoxville, Tenn.  "This was a very intense course.  The best Air Force sponsored training I have received in 25 years of service, " said Winhold.  "Level I trains you how to read AFSO21 time, Level II teaches you how the watch was made."  

The application process to be accepted into this program is selective, requiring  MAJCOM and Pentagon level approval.  Winhold is the first 4th Air Force member to be accepted to into the program.  In July he will participate in an immersion program with Boeing out of Mesa, Ariz.  Requirements for Level II certification include completion of the 12 day academic course, solving three Air Force problems, conducting a Level I training class, mentoring two Level I students, and completion of a two week immersion with a professional business company. All requirements must be completed within an eight month timeframe. 

Part of the AFSO21 toolkit is the 6S concept:  

1. Sort - get rid of what's not needed
2. Straighten - organize what is needed
3. Scrub - clean-up, see, & solve problems
4. Safety - see & fix unsafe conditions
5. Standardize - establish "how" to maintain
6. Sustain - be disciplined & keep area orderly

6S is the foundation for all future improvements and for visually managing the work area. There is a place for everything and everything is in its place.

"The take away for me is how to properly measure our improvements using AFSO21 tools to identify current state to future state progress," said Winhold.  "I am here to help out the wing anyway I can with the training I have received."