ARC Automotive, Inc. utilizes the Operational Excellence philosophy in the day to day business and operations of the company. This overriding philosophy encompasses the principles and disciplines known as: Strategy Deployment, Six Sigma (DMAIC and DFSS), Lean Manufacturing, and Value Stream Mapping. These elements have become part of the overall culture within the company. The intent of these principles and disciplines is to help ensure a common focus and direction in achieving the Company’s goals (Strategy Deployment), reducing variation in processes (Six Sigma), reducing and eliminating waste (Lean manufacturing), as well as identifying opportunities for system wide improvements (Value Stream Mapping) through the use of Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles. Intensive training is conducted for employees in these continual improvement methodologies including:

For Six Sigma, various levels of training are taught to impart the basic improvement principles and methods to reduce variation in processes. These levels are: Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt. Employees can become certified in the different levels. Certification requirements are based on management approval to attend training, completion of a project, and demonstrating improvements in the key metrics identified for their projects.

For Black Belt training, the focus is divided into two areas: DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) Black Belt and DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) Black Belt. DMAIC Black Belt focuses on improving manufacturing or transactional type processes whereas DFSS Black Belt is geared towards new product development and applications engineering.

For Green Belt, two areas of focus exist as well. Transactional Green Belt focuses on reducing variation in business processes like accounting, finance, and human resources. DMAIC Green Belt focuses on more traditional manufacturing processes.

The entire focus of Operational Excellence is to manage the business with a mindset towards continual improvement by utilizing data to make informed decisions. The training teaches a disciplined problem-solving method and encourages and promotes the value of teamwork to accomplish goals. Operational Excellence is more than just a training program or initiative, rather it is the culture of ARC Automotive.