The University of Denver has teamed up with a spaceport and a private equity firm to establish an engine for industrial growth in Colorado. The public-private partnership includes DU, Adams County, the Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP) and AltitudeX Aviation Group, a private equity company. Leading the effort for DU is Jack Buffington, an associate professor of the practice in the Daniels College of Business. He anticipates the partners’ new Six Sigma Center of Excellence will drive industrial growth for Colorado in six critical industrial sectors.
Suited for Growth
Jack Buffington
“With everything that’s going on with the economy, supply chains and President Trump trying to bring manufacturing back to the United States, industrial growth is probably going to be the country’s leading growth area. The West is where a lot of that will happen, and Colorado is well situated with Denver International Airport (DEN), the sixth largest passenger airport in the world,” Buffington said.
Owned and operated by Adams County, CASP lies seven miles southeast of DEN and 26 miles east of downtown Denver. Capable of supporting horizontal launch and landing operations, it’s one of only 14 designated U.S. spaceports. This high-tech asset will serve as the base for the Six Sigma Center of Excellence, joining an exclusive club of airports that host such a center, including DEN, Dallas Fort Worth International, Los Angeles World Airports and Singapore’s Changi Airport.
According to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Colorado’s aerospace industry is a global leader with more than 2,000 aerospace businesses. A 2024 OEDIT blog post noted the industry grew by more than 88% in 20 years. “Colorado will undoubtedly continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the next frontier of aerospace exploration, technology and defense,” the post said.
Gaining Liftoff
Historically, Colorado has not been a major region in the U.S. for industry; as such, it requires industrial engineering capabilities within Colorado’s Front Range universities to partner with private industry.
“Other parts of the country have established industrial growth sectors and a collaborative environment between universities, institutes and private organizations to drive growth. Colorado is getting there,” Buffington said.
An advisory board comprised of some of the state’s top CEOs approved the center’s focus areas: 1) aerospace, 2) advanced manufacturing, 3) supply chain initiatives, 4) critical minerals, 5) clean energy and water and 6) healthcare.
Proactive Push for Quality and Efficiency
“The Six Sigma Center of Excellence will be an open forum for us to partner with other universities and research institutes to spur industrial development across Colorado,” Buffington said.
The center’s name, he said, is a nod to a “gold standard” methodology that may sound more complicated than it is.
“Basically, Six Sigma is structured problem-solving,” Buffington explained. “It’s a data analytics-driven approach of understanding how to improve processes and efficiencies, reduce waste and enable employees. As a best practice process that’s been around for decades, it’s well understood in manufacturing, and now it’s starting to go into other fields.”
Applying a uniform methodology allows the center to foster collaboration across diverse organizations that typically measure success differently.
Learning From One Another
To spur industrial growth in Colorado, it is important for universities and research institutions to participate in the efforts.
“We believe collaboration will be good for everyone. There are strengths in our programs, and we can partner with universities that have other strengths to learn from each other. Imagine if we send a collective message that says we’re all working together. It’s more appealing than if it’s just one university,” Buffington said.
Opportunities for Students
The center will provide University of Denver students with impactful opportunities, including internships, research, hands-on experience, workforce development and networking. Those inclined can earn Six Sigma training certification belts that signify levels of expertise. Amassing practical, real-world experience, along with a theoretical understanding of Six Sigma, can set students up for career success.
“It’s a catalyst for industrial growth. Everybody is on board with it, so it’s just a matter of getting people together and moving forward,” Buffington said.