KIRKLAND, WA - Kenworth Truck Co.'s plant in Chillicothe, OH, received the Global Six Sigma award for best project achievement in the health, safety and environment category at the recent 2008 Global Six Sigma & Business Improvement Awards ceremony in Orlando, FL.

Kenworth-Chillicothe was recognized for successfully reducing the paint department’s impact on the environment and significantly enhancing paint quality. A 10-person team used Six Sigma methodology and analysis to annually eliminate 21,000 gallons of paint waste from the landfill and reduce volatile organic compound emissions by more than 15 tons. The project helped to significantly enhance paint quality on the main production line, while increasing process efficiencies in hood paint preparation by nearly 85%.

“It is an outstanding honor for Kenworth to receive this Global Six Sigma recognition. The award highlights continuous efforts in all Kenworth plants to improve the environment by finding new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle,” says Marilyn Santangelo, Kenworth assistant general manager for operations. “The Kenworth-Chillicothe team’s success demonstrates that process improvement efforts can be multi-faceted and used to effectively meet customer quality expectations, internal efficiency requirements, and environmental stewardship efforts.”

The Global Six Sigma and Business Improvement Awards are given annually to the most outstanding organizational achievements through the deployment of business improvement programs. The elite awards program’s focus is to demonstrate to the global business community the real results and excellence which organizations achieve through the successful deployment of Six Sigma and other business excellence programs. The awards are directed by an independent advisory panel and judged by a panel of independent business improvement experts and practitioners.

The company’s dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, medium duty diesel-electric hybrids, liquefied natural gas trucks, and the Kenworth Clean Power no-idle system. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Over the Road and Vocational Segment Class 8 trucks.