Air Force seeks new 'IDEAs' through program

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Vernon Cunningham
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard's Innovative Development through Employee Awareness office is looking to base personnel for "IDEAs" that would help improve day-to-day operations for the base and the Air Force.

IDEA is an employee-involvement tool for identifying process improvement opportunities.

The IDEA program gives recognition or a monetary award for submitted ideas that are implemented.

In fiscal year 2009; 4,876 new ideas were submitted to the Air Force IDEA program. Of those submissions; 3,678 ideas were approved. The approved ideas accounted for more than $126 million in validated savings and benefits, resulting in more than $2.5 million in awards paid.

Shirley Carrizo, Sheppard IDEA program manager, said the IDEA program is designed to give the employee an opportunity to express themselves by bringing to the attention of the Air Force their ideas for its improvement.

"Hundreds of thousands of dollars are saved annually by ideas submitted by members of the government work force," she said.

In Dec. 2008, Team Sheppard members received a collective total of $8,544 from the Air Force IDEA program as reward for approved submissions. The approved ideas saved Sheppard approximately $236,308 in the first year.

"Many of the ideas submitted are large, showing savings of great amounts of money," Mrs. Carrizo said. "But, the vast majority of ideas that benefit the Air Force are those seemingly small, inconsequential ideas. Too many of those are never submitted. Now is the time to start submitting these 'small' ideas and let the Air Force know that you are interested in helping."

Ideas can be submitted based on any topic in, or out, of a member's field of expertise.

Mrs. Carrizo said, "Whether it is something you do every day while performing your job or something you only encounter occasionally, looking at a procedure or product under a new approach can, in fact, save Uncle Sam some money and possibly reward you with a cash award ranging from $200 to $10,000."

To submit an idea that will positively impact Sheppard, the Air Education and Training Command or the Air Force; access the IDEA Program Data System website at https://ipds.randolph.af.mil.

For more information, call Mrs. Carrizo at (940) 676-4332.