ATA Suggestion Program begins New Year with savings Published Feb. 4, 2015 By Raquel March AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- ATA personnel submitted suggestions which provided $129,024 in savings for the start of the 2015 fiscal year through the ATA Employee Suggestion Program. For the 2014 fiscal year, ATA employee suggestions provided a total cost savings of $546,040 for AEDC. The ATA employees that submitted suggestions received awards totaling $26,409. According to Kimberly Vanzant, the suggestion program administrator and a project manager and quality auditor in the ATA Performance Management Department, the program is beneficial to the personnel who submit the suggestions as well as AEDC. "The Employee Suggestion Program is designed to encourage employees to exercise initiative within and beyond their basic job requirements to develop suggestions that improve the performance and quality of work while achieving AEDC mission objectives," Vanzant said. "It also establishes open communication of ideas and maximizes employee talents." Suggestions may qualify for a monetary award. If tangible suggestions result in cost savings or in avoiding expenses, that employee is eligible to receive 10 percent of the first year's annualized savings or avoidance up to a maximum of $3,000. Approved intangible suggestions, where no cost savings is involved, can result in employees being awarded from $25 to $100. Suggestions should be submitted through Matrix or ATA Employee Suggestion Program form GC-1390 to the department suggestion coordinator. In addition, suggestions that have potential costs savings or avoidances must be submitted on form GC-1570, Cost Analysis Summary. For more information, employees may contact Vanzant at 454-7459.