Value-Based Six Sigma is alive - literally. Like a living plant or tree, ITT Industries' continuous improvement initiative is growing - spreading out into all parts of the organization. Today, every value center has a VBSS Champion and many Champions and Black Belts have been promoted up the VBSS ladder or to important roles within their companies. To fill the vacancies, ITT Industries is recruiting and training an additional 25 Black Belts between now and March 2002. Currently, there are 16 open Black Belt positions - out of a total of 280. The goal is to fill those openings and create a pool of trained "reservists" who can be called up to fill any future vacancies. The newest VBSS class will include representatives from various geographies and all four management companies - Fluid Technology, Defense, Connectors and Specialty Products. "This training will ensure that the VBSS effort is at full-staff by February, when we kick-off Wave III and greatly expand the reach of VBSS throughout the organization," says Vince Fayad, director of VBSS.		From top: Scene from VBSS training held this past year in Budapest, Hungary, and Weinstadt, Germany.