Cutting the cards Mapping seeks to save time, money Published June 15, 2007 By Mike Molina ARPC Editor DENVER -- The handwriting was on the walls, and so were the cards. As part of the Air Force's Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, employees here used note cards and other tools as they identified ways to work more efficiently. For one week in May, the team of 17 ARPC employees, made up of technicians and managers from the Directorate of Personnel Program Management, conducted a Value Stream Mapping of the initial audit process. The event was unique for ARPC and the facilitators who led the event. "This is the first VSM we've conducted outside of the (Air Force Reserve Command) headquarters building," said Lt. Col. Deborah Divich, AFSO21 process champion at AFRC. The initial audit team spent three days laying out the steps of their process of ensuring Air Reserve Component customers have accurate and up-to-date service history for retirement and retention eligibility. The colored note cards were used to visualize the process and identify opportunities to create effiiencies. "Initial audit was selected for VSM because their process has wide-reaching implications for all our customers and throughout ARPC," said Col. Seferino Silva, ARPC's AFSO21 lead. Once the steps were identified, the team pointed out areas for improvement. "This gave us a chance to look at ourselves from the outside," Sue Deardorff, chief, Point Credit and Accounting Division, said. "We took the process and looked at it openly and honestly. " As a result of the mapping, the team deveveloped a plan of action, including consolidating paperwork, getting additional equipment, and ensuring cooperation from military personnel flights and recruiters. Their efforts identified a potential savings of more than 50 hours of work a month in the first 90 days of implementing their plan. "You save time, you save effort and you save money," Ms. Deardorff said. "It's something you can continually do. I think everyone should go through it." While the mapping event in DPP was a first for ARPC, Colonel Silva expects directorates throughout ARPC will use the program. "After this, we were able to identify other processes which VSM may improve," he said.