Dawud
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawud-makonnen-5550943a7
My name is Dawud Makonnen, and I’m excited to join the April Lean Six Sigma Green Belt cohort.
I bring over 25 years of experience in logistics, supply chain management, and operational systems, beginning with my service in the U.S. Army as a 76V and later a 92A Automated Logistics Specialist. After my military service, I continued working in supply chain and logistics across both private and public sectors, including roles in international logistics operations, defense contracting support, project management, and healthcare supply chain.
Most recently, I’ve worked within the Veterans Health Administration supporting healthcare supply chain operations, where the work goes far beyond simply ordering supplies. In healthcare, supply chain is part of the patient care delivery system. Every item—from surgical implants to PPE to disinfectants—must be available at the right time and place to support clinicians and patient safety.
One of the reasons I decided to pursue Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training is because I’ve seen firsthand how many operational problems are actually process problems. Whether it’s inventory stockouts, inefficient procurement workflows, or communication breakdowns between clinical and operational teams, many issues come down to systems that were never designed with continuous improvement in mind.