Airman wins for big IDEA

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  It wasn't a contest or a lucky roll of the dice that earned Tech. Sgt. Justin Burt, 28th Maintenance Squadron structural maintenance craftsman, $7,633. It was a good idea.

Sergeant Burt earned a check from the Ellsworth wing commander, Dec. 3, for creating and developing an idea through the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) Program.

"The IDEA Program is an incentive program that promotes process improvement and resource savings through ideas submitted by military and civilian employees," said Tech. Sgt. John Jessen, 28th Force Support Squadron manpower analyst. "This encourages a better way of doing business, by fostering employee awareness and participation in the program."

Airmen, like Sergeant Burt, can submit ideas through the program. If tangible savings or benefits are determined, the Airman receives a monetary award based on how much the Air Force would save from the first operational year of the idea. Sergeant Burt's idea will save Ellsworth an estimated $60,000 a year.

"It's a great feeling to see something like that pay off," Sergeant Burt said.

Sergeant Burt was rewarded because he thought of a new way to repair the rubber seals on the B-1B Lancer's landing gear doors.

"If the seals got damaged they had to be taken off and replaced," he said. "That is a six hour process."

Sergeant Burt began evaluating the effectiveness of replacing a seal every time it was damaged. He said he started wondering if it was possible to repair the seals, rather than replacing them. After doing the research, Sergeant Burt discovered that in 2000, Ellsworth installed 39 rubber seal replacements. The seals alone for the left and right doors cost $3,307. Sergeant Burt's solution to just repair the seals and not replace them costs roughly $53 per seal.

Sergeant Jessen encourages Airmen who have ideas to follow the same process as Sergeant Burt.

"Do your homework: First, talk to your supervisors, they know the processes and whether the idea has merit," said Sergeant Jessen. "Second, collect your data and compare it to your proposal; then ask yourself if it adds up to a tangible saving. Third, write out your proposal; include what the current process is, the proposed method and expected benefits."

Sergeant Jessen explains that the final step is to submit the idea through the IDEA Program website for evaluation. If the idea is approved, the Air Force rewards the submitter with 15 percent of the first year savings, up to $10,000.

"It can be a tedious process at times," said Sergeant Burt. "But, you get out of it what you put into it. And sticking with a good idea pays off in the end."