The challenge: How can we give AFIT/CE students the reprographic materials they need to maximize their education while ensuring we don’t waste resources by giving them materials they don’t need? The solution: Examine and improve the process through an AFSO21 event!

In April, Dr. Jared Astin, Acting Dean of the Civil Engineer and Services School, signed the AFSO event charter and formed a team of experts to tackle this challenge. Team members included Col Tom Glardon, Dennis Blythe, Tony Negri, Brenda Smith, Connie Strobbe, Capt Aaron Cooper, Capt Chip Hollinger, and Amn Shane Milburn. Team leader was Paul Keenan and the event facilitator was Col Dan Zalewski. Col Zalewski facilitated the AFSO process by having the team identify customers, costs, suppliers, inputs, outputs, and processes. Value stream mapping identified the many steps it takes to get the education materials from the developer to the student. Current costs were determined through DAPS (Defense Automated Printing Service) and other reprographic charges.

Determining what each student needs is a challenge the team focused on. Early in the process, the team determined that a single cookie-cutter approach applied to all courses would not maximize student learning. In-resident students had different education needs than distance-learning students, and entry-level students had different needs than mid- and upper-level managers and leaders. The team concluded that the course directors and department heads together would determine the most effective and efficient reprographic materials needed for each course, and regularly survey their students to adjust as needed. Prior student surveys have determined that many need an electronic copy of reprographic materials used in their classes, but many indicated that hard-copy materials were not as important or regularly used after completing the course work.