Berry Global’s Goshen, Indiana site has become its first factory to complete the Lean Six Sigma White Belt training for 100% of its workforce. This initiative represents the start of an ambitious program to introduce the White Belt Certification across Berry’s worldwide operations as part of its ongoing commitment to optimize operational procedures and improve processes.
The comprehensive training of all 104 employees at Goshen has not only supported personal growth and development among employees but has also resulted in tangible benefits for customers. For example, the enhanced skills and knowledge acquired by the workforce at Goshen have already led to clear improvements in quality and efficiency across its operations - including a project to better manage on-hand spare parts, and the creation of an innovative app to track waste reduction initiatives.
The training focused on the key principles of Lean Six Sigma (Customer Focus, Data-Driven Analysis, Proactive Improvement, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Thoroughness, and Flexibility) alongside emphasizing waste detection and elimination and techniques to enhance workplace safety and efficiency.
By introducing White Belt training from the ground up and across the board, the employees who are directly involved with production and customer interactions are empowered with essential lean techniques, tools, and knowledge – ultimately helping to optimize the impact of the program for Berry and its customers.
The Goshen facility has already seen many employees implementing their knowledge into everyday processes and actively making suggestions on how safety can be improved, with several employees now choosing to progress to higher belt certifications.
With Goshen setting a precedent for other Berry facilities, many other Berry locations are already following in its footsteps, including facilities in Libertyville, Illinois; Matthews, North Carolina; Chino, California; and Aurora, Ohio.