48.97 (+0.42) Raytheon Six Sigma™ Improves Health and Safety in the US Antarctic Program
Challenge
Develop a solution that would help Raytheon customer, the National Science Foundation, reduce accidents and injuries and the number of medical evacuations from Antarctica by improving the effectiveness of the health and safety programs of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP)
Solution
Apply Raytheon Six Sigma principles to:
- Create a health-and-safety-conscious culture
- Implement occupational medicine and diagnostic training modules for medical staff
- Upgrade telemedicine capabilities
- Modernize clinic equipment
- Redefine medical evacuation process
Results
- Total recordable injury rate (TRIR) down by 47 percent in first six months
- Medical evacuations down 22 percent in first year
- Worker compensation claims down by estimated $1.2 million in first year
- Enhanced relationship with customer that will lead to growth opportunities for Raytheon
Background
The National Science Foundation (NSF), customer of Raytheon Polar Services, was concerned with the growing number of expensive and risky medical evacuations taking place from its research stations in Antarctica. One particularly expensive evacuation in 2001 cost the USAP $457,000 for transportation alone. Raytheon and the NSF resolved to jointly sponsor a Raytheon Six Sigma project to reduce the number of medical evacuations specifically and improve the health and safety programs in the USAP in general.
Engaging Stakeholders and Using the Discovery Process
The key to the success of the project was the continuous participation of the customer throughout. At the kick-off meeting at NSF headquarters, Raytheon and NSF team members visualized the future of health and safety in the USAP and identified six key areas that were top priorities. Sub-teams were built around these priorities, each team led by a Raytheon content expert and a Six Sigma expert:
- Recruitment, selection and retention
- Medical screening
- Psychological screening
- Accidents and injuries
- Medical capabilities
- Medical evacuation process
Throughout the project, the sub-teams used many Six Sigma tools to accomplish their goals. Most notably, the overall project team completed an external benchmarking survey with other organizations that deploy people to work and live in remote locations. Benchmarking partners included:
- BP/Amoco
- Talisman
- French Antarctic Program
- Italian Antarctic Program
- Australian Antarctic Program
Making Improvements
The joint Raytheon/NSF Six Sigma team achieved project improvements in four main areas:
- Creating a health-and-safety-conscious culture. This endeavor included training to improve the “safety culture” on the ice and the implementation of occupational medicine and diagnostic training modules for medical staff.
- People value stream. This effort involved improvements in the recruitment, selection and retention of high-quality employees.
- Medical improvements. Key initiatives in this area were a telemedicine upgrade, clinic equipment modernization and a pharmacy database.
- Knowledge sharing. Information exchange between Raytheon Polar Services and the Psychological Screening Team of the NSF and a redefined medical-evacuation process improved greatly.
Results
The improvements showed significant results and the Six Sigma methodologies employed drove performance to meet customer requirements. Medical evacuations were down 22 percent in year one. The total recordable injury rate was down 47 percent in the first six months of the project (savings of $273,000) and worker compensation claims were reduced by approximately $1.2 million for 2002. Perhaps most noteworthy is the enhanced relationship that developed between the NSF and Raytheon. The project has already led to other joint efforts and will continue to provide growth opportunities in the future.
