Aviano Airmen put brakes on travel

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Colleen Wieman
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFPN) --  After logging more than 20,000 miles per year, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron supply warehouse personnel here realized they needed to do something to improve efficiency. 

As an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, the supply Airmen rearranged their warehouse to cut down on travel time and make their processes faster and smoother.

"We were walking more than 20,000 miles per year," said Senior Master Sgt. Brian Miller, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron material management flight chief. "'We were walking the entire warehouse including the upstairs. With the move, we'll only be walking 16,000 miles a year."

The supply Airmen, who share their warehouse with the Traffic Management Office, didn't have far to move. They moved their offices and reorganized their cargo on the opposite side of the warehouse. This move allowed better cross function with the people who work there and significantly saved travel time.

"It took a month to get the resources needed to make the move and four days to move everything," Sergeant Miller said. "The main thing is we provided a better working environment for our people."

As the 31st Fighter Wing's number one supplier of aircraft, communications and vehicle parts, the move improved workplace flow for the 65 people in the flight.

"The move wasn't easy; a lot of patience was needed," Sergeant Miller said. "Some people treat AFSO 21 like its [Total Quality Management,] but it's not. TQM was just paper. AFSO 21 makes things happen."

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