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Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Continued Success with Six Sigma Black Belt

With the help of: University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS)

About

Integer® Holdings Corporation is one of the largest medical devices outsource (MDO) manufacturers in the world serving the cardiac, neuromodulation, vascular and portable medical markets. The company provides innovative, high-quality technologies and manufacturing to medical device OEMs to enhance the lives of patients worldwide. The breadth of products they design, develop and manufacture range from finished device systems to class III medical devices to hundreds of components dispersed among 15+ markets. In addition, it develops batteries for high-end niche applications in energy, military, and environmental markets. Greatbatch Medical®, Lake Region Medical® and Electrochem® comprise the company’s brands. Guided by values of innovation, collaboration, inclusion, candor, integrity and customer, the company has served the global medical device industry for over eighty years.

The Challenge

Integer began their Six Sigma journey in 2011 with TMEP Consultant George Aslinger. At that time, George facilitated green and black belt training for Integer’s team. Due to growth and some turnover the company’s continuous improvement manager requested additional black belt training and certification.
George Aslinger with TMEP has trained several classes of black belt candidates for this site, and all have resulted in significant savings.  Thus far our relationship with George and the UT Center for Industrial Services has been very beneficial.  The cost of the service compared to what the service delivers is a key reason why Integer has used the service multiple times - great benefit for the cost.  One of the class participants remarked that this Six Sigma training was heads and shoulders above the training she received at a previous employer.
— John Curry, Sr. Manager Lean Optimization

MEP's Role

TMEP, part of the MEP National Network™, provided over eighty hours of black belt training across an eighteen-day period for fifteen employees. The training was conducted on site at Integer facilitates and included a mix of traditional instructor led lecture and hands on practice with the statistical software required to properly implement a Six Sigma program. Training covered the DMAIC process, advanced statistical functions, measurement systems analysis, capability studies, and design of experiments. In order to receive certification, each black belt candidate was required to attend a minimum of ninety percent of class time, receive a passing grade on a material review exam, and complete and present a project identifying a pre-determined amount of cost savings. Candidates were coached throughout the project implementation process by TMEP.
Created October 28, 2021