Website to repurpose excess office supplies saves Fairchild dollars Published Oct. 16, 2012 By Master Sgt. Jennifer Buzanowski 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wa. -- -- Team Fairchild saved more than $1,100 in two months using a Department of Defense website designed for units to make the most of excess office supplies and furniture on their installation. The 'Fairchild AFB Excess Supply Inventory' group on the milBook website allows work centers to take advantage of free supplies or furniture. It also gives work centers the opportunity to reduce the excess supplies in their office or gain back space being used by unwanted furniture. "Amazingly, the cost savings was realized with less than a dozen members belonging to the group. In order to post or view items you must register to join," said Master Sgt. James Ottman, superintendent, 92nd Air Refueling Wing's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. Air Mobility Command's AFSO21 Office suggested use of this site originally created by the U.S. Army in 2009. "I've received multiple calls from other bases asking for help setting up sites just like ours," said Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Howe, superintendent, 92nd Contracting Squadron. "The program will continue to grow as long as resource advisors start checking the site before making purchases." Howe is also a unit 6S representative - the program that focuses on 'six ways to be efficient.' The 6S stands for safety, sort, straighten, shine, standardize and sustain. "This year the Air Force encouraged all units to embrace the 6S concept. The best thing to come out of it at Fairchild was our group on the milBook website," said Ottman. The guidelines for 6S are: 1. Safety is should be in mind with all activities. Eliminate hazards. 2. Sort your workspace and move unused items out. Sort one a month. 3. Straighten up daily. Organize work areas visual technologies if possible. 4. Shine areas once a week. Build an office cleaning cart. 5. Standardize the sort, straighten and shine policies. Monitor conditions. 6. Sustain your 6S processes by ensuring guidelines are visible and carried out. To reach the milBook website visit www.milsuite.mil. The website is command access card enabled. Enter 'Fairchild' in the search bar for local information.