BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- In today’s dynamic geopolitical environment, Air Force units are either getting better or falling behind — Kaitlin Schaeffer’s job is to ensure the 307th Bomb Wing doesn’t do the latter.
Schaeffer is the wing process manager for the 307th Bomb Wing, leading its Continuous Improvement and Innovation Program, also referred to as CI2.
“The 307th Bomb Wing’s mission is to provide combat-ready Airmen, so our folks need to be ready at a moment’s notice, and sometimes we have to get creative and adapt,” Schaeffer said. “The continuous improvement and innovation mindset allows members to have those skills in their toolbox so that they can be ready to execute and get the mission done.”
The CI2 program focuses on three key pillars: continuous process improvement, lessons learned, and innovation.
Schaeffer promotes these elements by providing commanders and Airmen involved in a military planning process with access to tools and resources to avoid unforeseen problems.
“The Air Force has a repository of events that are full of lessons learned that I can access to help with planning,” she said. “But I also help Airmen analyze their plans and generate questions for their peers or other Air Force units that have completed a similar effort.”
She also assists with after-action analysis, enabling the learned lessons to be stored in the Air Force archive for use by other units.
However, Schaeffer explained that the acquired knowledge is not entirely practical as a standalone entity.
“Outside-the-box thinking and innovation are what drive process improvement,” she said.
She explained that using information from prior events in conjunction with an innovative mindset creates a positive feedback loop that generates effective process improvements, benefiting the entire Air Force.
While Schaeffer emphasized the importance of unit improvement, she also advocated for individual growth through the Green Belt and Black Belt certifications, part of the Continuous Process Improvement, or CPI program.
“When an Airman completes this training, they look at the world differently — from a process improvement perspective,” she said.
Part of the Lean Six Sigma methodology, Green Belt and Black Belt certifications teach Airmen and Department of Defense civilian employees how to apply the elements of process improvement and innovation to their daily work lives.
The free training is transferable to the civilian world, where Lean Six Sigma consulting is used to help businesses cut waste and inefficiencies at all levels, Schaeffer said.
307th Bomb Wing Airmen who want to enhance unit readiness or improve their individual skill sets can contact Kaitlin Schaeffer by email at kaitlin.schaeffer@us.af.mil