ATA employee suggestions result in significant cost savings, avoidances for AEDC Published April 22, 2014 By Vicki Peters, AEDC Contributing Writer AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- Aerospace Testing Alliance's (ATA) Employee Suggestion Program is a major component of the company's innovation and continuous improvement program. Six suggestions were implemented during the last quarter (December 2013 - February 2014). Two of these were intangible improvements. Four resulted in annualized cost savings or avoidances ranging from roughly $14,583 to $256,644 for a total of $330,584. Like its parent company Jacobs Engineering, ATA recognizes that "our employees are our greatest asset," and the Suggestion Program provides a venue for recognizing employee insight and innovation. Repurposing components from an inactive high-pressure air system, a suggestion submitted by Aeropropulsion Operations and Maintenance engineer Arnold Grigsby, netted a significant cost savings/avoidance of $256,644. Grigsby recommended removing, refurbishing and certifying the inactive components from another facility rather than purchasing new ones for a test cell modification. A simple change to the control sequencing of high-pressure air for the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel reduced the use of high-pressure air time required for a recent test. This innovation from Engineer Nathan Payne and Information Technologist Ronnie Rogers produced a cost savings/avoidance of $34,921.60. Space and Missiles Operations and Maintenance Manager Michael Wilson and Technical Specialist Bill Coppeans submitted a joint suggestion to modify the service air system in the Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU), resulting in a cost savings/avoidance of $24,435.60. Refrigeration Mechanic Tommy Henley's suggestion to provide a secondary containment system for a roof-top mechanical equipment room will provide protection to office areas below and result in a cost savings/avoidance of $14,583.40 in the event of a leak. Program Control employee Melissa Wenger's intangible suggestion to rename a web link to the ATA Portal reduces confusion for employees seeking to connect to the ATA internal website from the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) internal website on their computer desktops. Ollie Vincent, a pipefitter in ATA's Propulsion Wind Tunnel Mechanical Operations and Maintenance crew, found a simple, low-cost way to reduce a safety hazard when removing the vault cover on the main gas valve. He suggested welding a loop handle on each corner of the cover for easy and safe removal. Former Suggestion Program Administrator Tina Bonner commended these employees for their insight and contributions to process improvement, adding that the suggestion submittal process is simple. Bonner said, "It is both easy and beneficial for employees to provide us with their ideas, insights, and solutions for doing better things and doing things better. "Employees receive a recognition gift just for submitting ideas, and can get a monetary award if the suggestion is approved. An ATA company procedure explains that awards for approved intangible suggestions, where no cost savings is involved, range from $25 to $100 dollars. Suggestions involving a cost savings or avoidance are eligible for a cost share once the suggestion is implemented. The share is 10 percent of the documented savings or avoidance up to a maximum award of $3,000." Bonner, who has been the Suggestion Program administrator since ATA came on board, said that Kimberly Vanzant assumed the role of Suggestion Program Administrator this spring. Vanzant extended an invitation to all ATA employees to submit their ideas to the Suggestion Program and noted that she would like to see more participation from craft employees. Suggestions may be submitted electronically through Matrix or via a hard copy using form GC-1390 to the appropriate department suggestion coordinator. Suggestions that have potential cost savings or avoidances must be submitted on form GC-1570 Cost Analysis Summary. Department coordinators are Joane Cassady, Test and Asset Support; Pam McCullough, Mission Support; Cindy Bernd, Information Technology; Gail Bryant, Test and Evaluation; Wendy Carr, Performance Management; and Cynthia Northcutt and Judy Brewer, Office of the General Manager. For more information, employees are encouraged to talk with their department suggestion coordinators or contact Kimberly Vanzant at 454-7459.