Lean Government
Region 1 Annual Facility Inventory Process
Lean Event Case Study
Summary
In January 2014, Region 1 held a value stream mapping event for its annual facility inventory process, which involves accounting for
over 3000 pieces of equipment. Prior to the Lean event, staff members conducted the annual inventory by hand. This approach
required scheduling time with staff who managed the equipment, visiting the equipment location, examining and tagging the
equipment, and entering data to account for its status. The staff involved found this process cumbersome, stressful, and enormously
time-consuming. Through a Lean event, Region 1 sought to develop an alternative process that would meet EPA inventory control
guidelines while saving staff time and resources.
As a result of the Lean event, Region 1 developed an electronic inventory process that significantly reduces the time required to
complete its annual equipment inventory.
Results
The Lean event identified an electronic method to perform the annual facility inventory process that reduced the overall lead time
of the process by 75 percent.
Metric
Lead Time
Old Process
8 months
New Process
2 months
Percent Change
vU75%
*Results are anticipated based on the new process design
Figure 1: Lean Event Team: Chris Diehl, Jack Paar, Jim Keleher, Susan Dushinksi, and team leader Nicole Checchi
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Scope of the Lean Project
Project Scope: The annual facility inventory process that
begins when equipment is identified by decals and ends with
an annual submission of inventory data to EPA Headquarters.
Goals:
Complete the inventory in the most efficient manner
Review Headquarters' guidelines for property
inventory
Improve understanding of the current Region 1
process
Develop streamlined procedures
Develop a plan for the FY14 inventory submittal
Objectives:
• Reach 100% compliance with inventory
requirements
• Reduce the amount of time and number of steps in
the current process
Figure 2: Improvement Prioritization Matrix
Process Changes and Improvements
Participants in the Lean event mapped the current facility inventory process in Region 1 and streamlined procedures to
achieve an improved future state. The analysis started with an evaluation of the inventory requirements set by EPA guidance.
The team determined the requirements did not mandate a physical inspection of each piece of equipment in the inventory
submission, and that an alternative approach - based on data collected on each piece of equipment - could be used to ensure
accountability.
The event team identified the following process changes:
• Leverage existing IT data to inventory electronic equipment across the region for which data is available, eliminating
the need for physical equipment inspections.
• For equipment not registered in the IT system, assign responsibility for inventory control to a new set of Property
Custodial Officers who are familiar with equipment in their areas and can accomplish the inventory in a much more
efficient and effective manner than facilities staff. (This system had been set up at one time, but was not being
used).
• Use the National Property Management Database, an RTP developed system that transfers information into the
Compass-Maximo database in bulk to update annual inventory. The Compass-Maximo Database is used by EPA
Headquarters uses to collect the annual facility inventory data, but it only allows for one entry at a time. The
National Property Management Database is available to all regions top enter the data in bulk, but only a few use it.
The changes eliminated the need for facility inventory staff to visit each work area, waiting time to set up appointments, and
the likelihood for backlogs to arise, which will ultimately save a significant amount of staff time.
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Figure 3: Current Process Map (top) and Future Process Map (bottom)
Implementation
Region 1 implemented the following process changes:
1. Evaluated EPA Headquarters' requirements for regional facility inventory to confirm that Region 1's new process remains
in compliance with the requirements.
2. Trained staff to run the electronic facility inventory reports.
3. Developed standard operating procedures that improved consistency and efficiency, such as how to apply decals on
equipment and assign equipment to Property Custodial Officers.
4. Adjusted the inventory process schedule to reach property custodial officers at the best times for their workload and
schedules.
5. Obtained electronic information on existing Region 1 inventory.
6. Created an electronic form for new equipment inventory.
7. Use RTP's National Property Management Database to enter information into the Maximo Compass database for
submission to HQ.
8. Meet with IT staff on an ongoing basis to refine the system.
For More
Information:
Lean Event Contacts:
Linda Darveau, Facilitator, (617) 918-1718, darveau.linda@epa.gov
Nicole Checchi, Team Leader, (617) 918-1925, gaito.danielle@epa.gov
EPA Lean Government Initiative:
Kimberly Green-Goldsborough, EPA Office of Policy, (202) 566-2355
green-goldsborough.kimberly@epa.gov
http://www.epa.gov/lean/government/
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Policy
(1807T)
December 2014
EPA-100F14004
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