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Show .Dec. 9, 1988 Extra digits move mail with Hilltop Times Equipment installation time cut drastically by Hill employees by Ralph C. Jensen Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office If your mail has four extra digits on the ZIP code, it probably arrived 66 When the issue of quality is at hand, workers in the plant management division respond quickly. Their efforts have saved the Air Force time and money. They have also been selected by Air Force Logistics Command officials as a representative from Hill AFB's Directorate of Maintenance to show a little quicker. And it cost the government less money to mail it. According to Daniel Jones, the chief of Air Force Logistics Command contracting data systems development laboratory, adding the four digits allows the mail to be automatically sorted to a street address. "This allows the mail to move are able to meet that goal and continue compressing our We installation days. 99 quality innovations to Pentagon officials. "The quick installation project team has taken the bull by the horns and proven quality is job one at Hill," Col. William E. Lindsay, Hill's "It also . helps the postal automated process. It saves the postal service time in their daily routine and they pass faster," Mr. Jones said. along a savings to the customer." Hill contracting offices that have implemented the ZIP plus four system get a .9 cents per piece of mail discount. It also streamlines the contracting process by getting the mail out quicker. "Like any quality program, we want to get the mail where it is intended quicker," Mr. Jones said. "Along with achieving that goal, we save a little bit of the government's money. "When you figure the amount of mail sent out, then add in a savings per each item, it adds up little by QIP team leader days. Using both systems our aver-- . age is presently 41 days," Terry Steed, QIP team leader in the Directorate of Maintenance, said. "We have found we are able to meet that goal and continue our efforts in compressing our installation days. "We have also found that customer response to our installation activities is completely positive," he said. According to Mr. Steed, workers have been installing equipment that has been sitting on base for more than a year. The equipment awaiting an installation date under the old system has been installed under the new program. The wait has also seen a warranty come and go before the equipment was actually installed in director of the Quality Program Office, said. "They have really gone the extra mile in accomplishing a quality goal. Their efforts will be noticed by many . individuals, who have been watching for quality programs quite some time." The quick installation program is a success story that has provided a vehicle for maintenance product divisions to react to production changes needs in a timely manner. The comparisons are staggering. Previous installation projects (nine total) took an average of 181 days to complete. Under the new system, quick installation project team members have had great success. Turnaround time on the current 42 projects has averaged 11 days. little," he said. And while the ZIP plus four system is the newest and quickest tern, base officials are looking at the future. Coming down the pike will be ZIP codes that are bar coded, moving the mail in an even faster manner. . S Terry Steed " many instances. "Although we have only been doing this kind of work for about three "Current regulations require equipment installation within 45 nil ( ? months, we've been able to respond almost immediately," Mr. Steed said. "By the end of November we find that we have already reached our goals of equipment installation. Workers have exceeded goals set by division officials each month." One reason the maintenance workers are able to work so quickly is that they are able to relocate the equipment and install it with customersupervisor approval on site. They have been able to skirt reading blueprints of the building by simply talking to the supervisors and product division engineers who help relocate the machinery with technical support. "Our work has created a domino effect not only for us, but for the people we are installing equipment for," Mr. Steed said. "They are getting machinery quicker which allows them an opportunity to do other projects that need design work. "The equipment installation program is one that everyone wanted to see improve. And we think as we become accustomed to the work, we'll become more proficient. "We're following the quality mandates set forth by AFLC. This involves people and performance on the job. This isn't exactly the most glamorous job on base, but it is saving time and money," he said. While the time savings is obvious, financial savings comes in the form of hours saved. Through the first three months, maintenance officials estimate an hourly and project savings of more than $75,000. QmEGSQ K3GQ033 ASK ABOUT OUR WEEKLY MANAGER'S SPECIALS (Every Store Different) NO ITEM OVER $9.00 TLi'v j HI iiiMinn .i4 J.5S I V Xvl Starting ott FASHIONS rI I on a. o" :;0n dona w i A JO Z,n y? " rmiui II - rv..-rU- f j tni w Dec i kis ST COUPON L each 4)v With this coupon lExnlrm j jReg2oo i I TODDLER SHIRTSrryr Knits or Sweats 95 hi BABY FLEECE TOPS j & KNITS I Dm. 16. 1988) , '-O f Jr-- vi arch . STARTING AT J I . HI fV Off ?:- "- set wss 4 |