Picatinny Public Affairs

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ -- The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal has been awarded the "Shingo Bronze Medallion" for operational excellence.

The award was based on the recommendations made during the Shingo visit to Picatinny Arsenal the week of Oct. 17.

"You have joined a distinguished group of recipients that have demonstrated a commitment to achieving operational excellence," said Shingo assessment coordinator Ha Chau in notifying ARDEC of the award.

"We are proud to add your facility to that elite group," Chau added.

The Shingo team based its recommendations on ARDECs implementation of lean principles and best practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness in achieving mission objectives.

The Bronze Medallion Award is presented to organizations that successfully use those tools.

"This outcome represents a significant achievement and great source of pride for the entire ARDEC enterprise," said ARDEC Director Dr. Gerardo Melendez.

"The Shingo Bronze Medallion serves to recognize and validate the great progress we have made as an organization and also provides a reminder to us all that we have an opportunity to improve even further," Melendez added.

"With this award, ARDEC has achieved what few, if any, organizations can claim to have earned, and that is garnering both the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (2007) and now Shingo recognition—-a truly outstanding accomplishment by any measure.

"I want to congratulate and thank each of you for your continued hard work and dedication in support of the warfighter as we celebrate this latest milestone along our performance excellence journey.

"Please keep up the great work!"

ARDEC will be honored at the 24th Annual Shingo Prize Awards Gala from on April 30 to May 4, 2012.

"We expect to receive a feedback report from the Shingo Prize office in a few weeks.," said Brad Sampson, the team leader for organizational effectiveness at ARDEC headquarters.

The awards gala will mark the conclusion of a four-day, lean principle-centered event.

It will feature a strategic selection of workshops, plant tours, keynote speakers and breakout sessions.

Being selected for to receive the Shingo Bronze Medallion is another feather in ARDEC's cap this year after capturing six of the Army's Top 10 Greatest Inventions and being recognized as the U.S. Army's Laboratory of the Year (large lab category).

The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence is named after Shigeo Shingo, an industrial engineer who developed the Toyota Business System.