By implementing quality improvement methods such as Lean Six Sigma, the U.S. military is saving billions of dollars, and these savings could grow even faster as the Department of Defense takes steps to expand these initiatives throughout the armed services.

The Department of Defense, for example, recently selected the leading provider of software and services for quality improvement, Minitab Inc., for a General Services Administration Blanket Purchase Agreement.

At a time when all branches of the military are implementing such initiatives, the agreement makes Minitab’s solutions for data analysis, quality improvement, Lean, and Six Sigma more easily accessible.

Nearly 2,000 personnel have been trained, more than 1,000 projects have been completed, and more than 1,600 remain active, since the U.S. Army deployed Lean Six Sigma in 2005. The Army credits these projects with achieving nearly $2 billion in savings so far.

The Department of the Navy has trained more than 5,000 sailors and Marines as Six Sigma green or black belts since 2006. The Navy estimates savings from its projects for 2006 and 2007 to be $450 million, a 4-to-1 return on investment.

The U.S. Air Force has trained more than 500 Six Sigma belts, and its Air Logistics Centers received two Shingo Prizes for quality improvement last year. Without impairing its operational capabilities due in part to efficiencies gained from its initiatives, the Air Force has committed to a 40,000-manpower reduction.

Including Minitab Statistical Software, Quality Companion by Minitab, and Quality Trainer by Minitab, as more military personnel begin applying the tools of Six Sigma, they are likely to encounter Minitab’s products.

Commercial sales leader for Minitab Inc, Paul Engle, declared: “Minitab’s software is used by the most successful Six Sigma companies, and this agreement gives the military easy access to the same tools and solutions.”

Minitab Statistical Software is the leading software used to implement quality improvement and Six Sigma worldwide. Including Honeywell, Caterpillar, 3M, Bank of America and the leading Six Sigma consultants, thousands of successful companies use Minitab to improve their businesses and achieve world-class quality.

Quality Companion is a separate software package that makes Six Sigma projects easier to organize, standardize, and execute. It enables team members to centralize and share project data, get guidance from Coaches, map processes and assign variables, standardize project deliverables, and more.