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What is NPIER?


NPIER is the Navy Performance Improvement Educational Resource.  The NPIER Playbook provides various performance improvement methodologies that are ready for use. A link to the document can be found under the document repository.

NPIER outlines how to apply common sense methods to Navy problem sets that do not require the use of big data and advanced analytical techniques. It is a key element of the P2P approach to address operational challenges within the Navy enterprise.

DMAIC Approach

NPIER uses the DMAIC approach to solve problems. DMAIC is a data-driven improvement cycle to methodically identify inefficiencies within problem areas, with the goal of improving, optimizing, or stabilizing an existing process.

Why NPIER?


The Navy recognizes there are existing challenges in achieving breakthrough improvements to key readiness metrics and many operational issues can be diagnosed and actioned with basic data and process improvement methods. In response, the NPIER effort was initiated to bring common-sense problem-solving methods to help process and system owners identify and resolve performance issues

For these problem-solving methods, there is a relentless focus by VCNO to REDUCE complexity and inefficiency, IDENTIFY the root cause of problems, and DEVELOP straightforward, measurable solutions to improve performance.

How to Apply NPIER


The problem-solving methods within NPIER are organized into the 5 categories of the DMAIC approach. When addressing an operational issue, one method (at minimum) within each category should be utilized to successfully implement the DMAIC approach.

How to start an NPIER Project:

1. Identify the project goal, the problem to solve, or the opportunity to pursue. What are the specific problems your team is experiencing?

2. Determine the scope of the project (What is in vs. out of scope).

3. Complete the problem Statement document and Project Viability matrix.

4. Determine the core team for the project. This should be key stakeholders to the process that can speak to the inputs and outputs of the process. Expectation: The core team will devote 3-4 hours per week in working sessions/meetings dedicated to the NPIER effort.

5. Gather existing documentation related to the current process and share with the NPIER team (I.e. manuals, policy documents, current state process maps, etc.).

6. Identify and document current initiatives in-flight to address the problem and known issues and challenges associated to the current process.

 
Interested in using NPIER to solve your problem? Submit an interest form here.

CNO N4 Unaccompanied Housing NPIER Effort


The NPIER team worked with Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N4 to optimize unaccompanied housing (UH) solutions. By developing new metrics, N4 will improve how funding decisions are determined and better address the needs of service members who are entitled to unaccompanied housing. The team led stakeholders through the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) process to identify potential root causes of the problems and to develop areas for improvement.

Click here to watch an interview with CDR Juli Strieter discussing the OPNAV N4 UH NPIER Effort

*Navy FlankSpeed Access and CAC required*
 

JAG Region Legal Service Office Southwest NPIER Effort


The NPIER team continues to work with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps Region Legal Service Office Southwest (RLSO SW) on an effort to reduce prosecution case processing time by 50%. The team led stakeholders through the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve Control (DMAIC) process to identify root causes of delays and develop improvement opportunities. Established working groups supported the effort by analyzing complex problem spaces, recognizing shared objectives, and implementing each opportunity for improvement.

Click here to watch an interview with CAPT Philip Hamon and LT Tess Schwartz discussing the JAG RLSO SW NPIER Effort

*Navy FlankSpeed Access and CAC required*

Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control


DMAIC is a data-driven improvement cycle to methodically identify inefficiencies and problem areas with the goal of improving, optimizing, or stabilizing an existing process.

DMAIC has evolved to become a non-linear process through dynamic application of problem-solving tools and methods that focus on determining a current state, establishing a standard, identifying problems and developing solutions, and continuous improvement and learning. The result is quicker wins and faster learning.

Below is a current list of DMAIC methodologies:

NPIER VS P2P

A brief comparison between the methodologies of NPIER and P2P

Elements NPIER P2P
Goal Drive Navy performance improvement through common-sense problem-solving methods Drive Navy performance improvement through mission-driven metric reporting
Insight Source Various process improvement techniques Advanced data analytics techniques
Levels of Oversight NPIER team, Chief Learning Officer (CLO), self-implementation, etc. Echelon I, Supported Commander, Limited Scope
Timeline Varies based on problem space Ongoing, represents a shift in Navy culture
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