The head of Kern County Probation says his staff saved $400-thousand with efficiency changes in the Lean Sigma Six program. Chief TR Merickel told Supervisors Tuesday that streamlining the process for probation violations freed staff for more important things. “They want to work with the youth, they want to change people’s lives. People become probation officers ’cause they want to make a difference in our community, they don’t become probation officers to fill out paperwork.” The board directed managers to adopt Lean Sigma Six strategies after oil prices tanked, so staff could provide needed services with fewer resources.

Suzanne Grant