Big Idea: Civilian employee awarded $10,000 for developing cost saving measure

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Samantha S. Crane
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  On June 28, Rick Griebel received the biggest check of his life, literally. The check, which was more than 3.5 feet long, was written for $10,000 and signed by Lt. Gen. Vern M. "Rusty" Findley II, the Air Mobility Command vice commander.

Mr. Griebel was awarded the incentive check through the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program for an initiative estimated to save AMC more than $2 million during the next 15 years.

The IDEA Program is an incentive program that recognizes submitters for their approved ideas that benefit the Air Force through streamlined processes, improved productivity and cost savings. Approved initiatives that generate tangible savings for the Air Force often result in awards to individuals credited with ownership of the idea. Idea owners may be eligible for cash awards ranging from $200 to $10,000, based on validated first year savings.

Mr. Griebel said he didn't expect recognition when he originally procured an automated, on-demand box-making machine and high capacity shredder for Scott Air Force Base. He was just trying to improve cargo operations, help Airmen be more effective in their jobs, and do his part to save the Air Force money. Using unit funds in 2006, Mr. Griebel procured the equipment, enabling shop personnel flexibility to quickly create boxes "right-sized" to the items being shipped, and the ability to create box filler material from recycled cardboard scraps. The initiative at Scott AFB reduced cargo operations storage space requirements, dependence on plastic filler material by 30 percent, eliminated 95 percent of cardboard waste and slashed supply costs by 60 percent per container. The equipment Department of Defense transportation customers real dollars.

After purchasing the equipment, Mr. Griebel spent the next several years tracking savings and demonstrating the equipment to anyone who was interested. During an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century senior leader tour of the packing and crating shop's local improvement efforts, AMC leaders became interested in expanding this initiative to other bases in the command.

The years of collecting supply reduction cost data were critical in AMC officials' efforts to justify potential offset savings, and led to a fiscal 2010 decision to select six AMC wings to fund a similar equipment investment through the Air Force Productivity Enhancing Capital Investment Program. The $440,000 command investment project is expected to generate $2.1 million in supply cost savings over the life of the equipment. Innovative ideas like this are what lead people like Mr. Griebel, the originator of the box-maker and shredder concept, to receive recognition and monetary awards through the IDEA program.

"It's great to see we're rewarding our teammates for great ideas," said Col. Michael Hornitschek, the 375th Air Mobility Wing commander. "We value the initiative Mr. Griebel displayed, and appreciate the outstanding results!"

"Thank you for the energy, the stamina and the perseverance to see this idea through," General Findley said.

Mr. Griebel said he couldn't do it alone.

"I owe a lot to the guys up in headquarters. I couldn't have finished it without them," he said.