Combining Smart IDEAs

  • Published
  • By Col. Scott Hanson
  • 92nd ARW commander
"We must fundamentally change the culture of our Air Force so that all Airmen understand their individual role in eliminating things that don't add value to the mission," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff.

Our Air Force is leaning up and working smarter, experiencing a shift in thought that ultimately seeks to streamline and slash waste from how we conduct our everyday business.

Through this shift, the Secretary of the Air Force has said, we are launching unnecessary work out the door - forever.

In the spirit of our Chief's and Secretary's words, our wing is merging our Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century efforts with the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program.

Through this merge, we are melding two endeavors - transforming an Airman's great ideas to eliminate unnecessary work into increased efficiencies for our Air Force. This combination is a win-win for our people and our Air Force.

AFSO 21, managed here by Mr. William Long, works exclusively to help us understand the steps in what we do on a day-to-day basis and eliminate non-value added work, or work that is not absolutely necessary. Through this undertaking, teams of experts are identifying projects and attacking them - intent on getting rid of waste.

The IDEA program, administered by Master Sgt. Bill Bowers, seeks out suggestions that may lead to financial savings for the Air Force. IDEA returns a monetary reward to Airmen who provide cost-saving suggestions. Don't just take it from me. IDEA stories are found throughout the Air Force, even here at Fairchild.

Mr. Steve Peck is a great example. Steve, who is a civilian working at our Mission Support Squadron, made a tremendous IDEA submission. After identifying missing information on a government web site, he submitted the appropriate documentation describing the possible fix and its benefits - earning him $200. In fact, between April 2005 and December 2006, the Air Force paid out over $16,000 to Fairchild Airmen with good ideas.
Merging AFSO 21 and IDEA is itself an example of improving our wing's efficiency.

By teaming Mr. Long and Master Sgt. Bowers, we will have the capacity to increase the cross flow of good ideas - making it much easier for suggestions to transition between the AFSO 21 and IDEA managers.

Further, our Airmen still have the opportunity to receive cash rewards for helping save the Air Force money. I encourage each of our Airmen to keep their eyes and ears open, prepare to eliminate wastefulness at their workstations and report their suggestions to our AFSO 21 and IDEA team. It's time for everyone to take that list of good ideas out of your pockets and cash in.

Through your smart ideas, innovations, and initiative, Team Fairchild will launch unnecessary work out the door - forever.

Innovative Airmen -- At the Heart of Smart Ops