Last spring, the LEAN Pioneer team began training in quality improvement processes with the first process identified as purchasing procurement across the college. This team has been working diligently to create a process that will retain value but will reduce waste and inefficiency, thereby creating more capacity for the college.
We are now ready to roll out the new purchasing procurement process which will affect all departments across the campus. This training will occur in December with the new process being completely implemented by the start of second semester.
The following details the training dates, times, and expectations:
Training for department purchase originators will take place on the following dates/times in the Geisel Library classroom, 2nd floor:
- Wednesday, December 8, 2010: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, December 10: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 14: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, December 16: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Attendance at a training session will be mandatory to use the CIS purchasing system; going forward in January, the new system will be required for making purchases. There will be limited flexibility in make-up training for those who are legitimately excused from attending training.
Department heads with budget approval authority will receive e-mail instructions on the steps required for approving a purchase order; the e-mail will also contain an attachment consisting of a “quick guide” on approval steps.
Purchase order originators will receive a follow-up communication from the co-chairs of the LEAN Pioneer Team, Bill Furlong and Jacques Plante, on how to sign-up for the training using an online registration form on the Intranet.
I would like to acknowledge the entire LEAN Pioneer team who have led this purchasing process improvement for the college. In addition to Bill Furlong and Jacques Plante, the team is comprised of: Kathy Beausoliel (Nursing), Bob Baron (Finance), Doris Dionne (Physical Plant), Tricia Halliday (Marketing and Enrollment Management), Elizabeth Holmes (Library), Deb MacDonald (Campus Mail Center), Kathleen Parnell (Human Resources), Margaret Pfalzgraf (Athletics), Carol Richards (IT), Margaret Roach (Biology), and Leila Wilder (College Advancement). They have been dedicated and vigilant in ensuring that the process we will be instituting is one that meets with the LEAN processes and fits with the college. I am grateful for their commitment to pioneering this process at the college.
In the future, there will be other processes that we will be looking at once the purchasing procurement process is finalized. As always, I appreciate the entire college’s support and openness to this effort as we implement this first LEAN process.