AF process improvement expert to offer training at ESC By Chuck Paone ESC Public Affairs Air Force transformation leader and noted process improvement specialist Dr. Chalon Keller will conduct four training sessions for Electronic Systems Center members March 28. The sessions are among a slate of activities being offered during Integration Week March 27 through 31. The training provided by Dr. Keller will highlight key Air Force Smart Ops 21 principles and connect them to the ongoing Balanced Scorecard initiative. “I am excited about this opportunity as I have actually seen her in action. In just a matter of days, she helped the workforce Lean their processes,” said ESC Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Arthur Rooney. “I also heard from the workforce how they were initially skeptical but were now advocates for Lean. This is a powerful tool that has application both in production and administrative processes. I can’t think of a better way to learn than from someone with hands on experience.” Of the four sessions, two will be for supervisors and two for the general work force, according to Mike Rein of ESC’s Plans and Programs Directorate. All sessions will be held in the O’Neill Auditorium, in Building 1612, which holds 97 people. The general sessions will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The sessions for supervisors will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dr. Keller will also be conducting specialized training for ESC senior leadership March 27. Also on Monday, she intends to consult with the Plans and Programs Directorate and the Source Selection Improvement Team, which is working one of four AFMC-wide AFSO 21 improvement efforts. Dr. Keller is the deputy chief of Transformation for Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. There she is responsible for managing all center-directed transformation initiatives, including Continuous Process Improvement and Lean activities, Balanced Score Card, project facilitation, and CPI training for the air logistics center. She began her Air Force career in September 2003 as chief of the Process Improvement Branch within the Aircraft Division at Ogden. In this position, she oversaw all process improvement initiatives related to the depot repair and modification of the A-10, F-16, and C-130 aircraft, which are housed in 39 separate buildings and involve more than 2,400 personnel. Partnering with other managers, Dr. Keller achieved a number of productivity increases and significantly reduced “flow” times for aircraft undergoing improvement or modernization. Dr. Keller holds a B.S., an M.S., and a Ph.D. from Utah State University. She served in a number of industry positions and as both a professor and administrator at the university level before coming to work for the Air Force.