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Show Jan. 25, 1996 3 Hilltop Times Commander's Call questions answered J not: Instead of carrying Action Line this what follows is the first in a series of questions that were brought up Dec. 6 at Maj. Gen. Pat Condon 's Commander's CalL For brevity and ease of readership, they are put in the same format as the Action Line column and some are combined because the question andor answer were the same. Editor's I am aware of the benefits to employees of the need and infrastructure condition; JF work schedule. Any change to a work finding the funding to accomplish the work. etc.) will be supported by eviBy aggressively following this strategy, we have been schedule able to focus our manning and money on the most crit- dence that the change is better than the status quo. ical needs of the base. With continued pride and sup- Productivity and customer support have always been port from base residents and visitors, we can continue the focus of our efforts, and part of productivity is emto keep our facilities in good shape for the numerous ployee morale. We continue to consider that element missions on base for many more years. along with all other relevant data as we evaluate results of the customer survey, review appropriate indicators week, 9 (4-1- Facilities look great! Thank you for making AFB the best I've What Hill Q over been assigned in 1 8 years. How do you manage to keep base facilities in such good shape with such limited funds? 5-- QThe about schedule in anything? 5-4- 9? is the best Does 30 years. thing that has morale mean the reason we have been nominated the best base in the Air Force? can we be such an outstanding ALC and so many awards when, with the 5-schedule, we do not meet our customers' needs? Is really an issue? goes away, will we be able to work time"? Maybe a work schedule with core hours between certain times? we be able to see the results of the survey so we will know that it has not been manipulated against the employees and just for upper management? Qls J Thank you for the compliment on base appear-A- l ance. These days it is certainly a challenge to preserve and protect the over $4 billion investment in facility infrastructure that supports critical missions at Hill. The dramatically decreased funding and manning levels demand greater planning on everyone's part to ensure that the base's infrastructure stays in good shape. Our strategy is threefold: identifying work that needs to be done through customer inputs, the Commander's Facility Assessment, and CE craftsmen and engineer inputs; prioritizing work intelligently based on mission 5-- QHow 49 5-- Qlf 5-- -6 5-- QWill 5-- and decide whether changes are necessary. I am committed to providing the best support possible to our warfighters and the work schedule that does that best is the one we will use. Attendance mandatory was this Commander's mandatory QWhy personnel? Call Combat Logistics Support Squadron J Commander's Call was mandatory for all mili-- f tary officers and all civilian supervisors. Tenant organizations were also invited. Squadron commanders have the prerogative to require personnel to attend in addition to those I required to be in attendance. I recommend you discuss this with your commanding officer if further clarification is required. More questions on page 6. Alternate work schedules contingent upon 1 Customer satisfaction, worker morale productivity, But are before changes made, management must be satisfied the result will be an improvement by Thomas L. Miner Executive director, Ogden Air Logistics Center During the recent Commander's Call, many questions from the audience cen- tered on the work schedule. The schedule, which has employees working eight workdays and one k period, was day over a started as a means to save energy, reduce leave usage and maintain productivity. However, customer complaints from a survey sent out in 1994 and a lack of tangible savings have caused us to reexamine this schedule. We realize that over that past couple of years, the base has faced many issues, such as a reduction in force and the accompanying realignment challenges, which could also affect customer satisfaction. Some of the questions included: schedule is the best thing The 9 that has occurred in 30 years. Does morale mean anything? How can we be such an outstanding ALC and be winning so many awards schedule, we do not when, with the meet our customers' needs? Is 9 9 two-wee- 9 really an issue? If 9 goes away, will we be able to work "flex time"? Maybe a work schedule with core hours between certain times? work schedI'm aware of how the ule benefits employees. An extra day off every two weeks can be enjoyable. Some have even taken part-tim- e jobs on their days off. Nevertheless, the question remains are we serving our customers? A friend once visited a large discount store, looking for a tow rope to help move a disabled car. Once he arrived at the automotive section, he didn't find what he was looking for, nor did he find anyone to help him. He went to the adjoining pharmacy and asked them to page a clerk for automotive. Then he waited five minutes, 10 minutes and asked them to page the clerk again. Finally, 15 minutes after the first page, an automotive clerk happened to wander by and tersely say, "No, we don't carry 9 those." Understandably frustrated, the customer went to another store where the friendly, available staff not only directed him to the tow ropes, but explained how to use one. Can you guess where he did his shopping afterward? The same applies to the Ogden Air Logistics Center. If a customer needs help on a "down" Friday and gets nothing but a voice message that directs him to another unanswered voice message or call someone who says, "I don't know back Monday," do you think they'll be thrilled doing business with us? On the other hand, consider our recent response to a crisis in Bosnia. We were called on to help ship 600 tents to support troops helping with the peace effort. Active duty from the 75th Air Base Wing, reservists from the 67th Aerial Port Squadron and civilian employees from the Air Terminal Operations Center worked with Defense Depot Ogden to package, palletize and load the 1,870-poun-d tents. They worked in shifts from 7 a.m. to midnight, even on New Year's Eve, to meet the demands. By the way, the call for assistance came in on what for some was a "down" Friday. irirr-ij Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the VS. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Time are not necessarily the official views 10-ho- war-fighter- s, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made avail- able fpr purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff, Bldg. 1102, Room 118, Ext. Unless otherwise indicated all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. of, Quality Systems for America's Air Force Hilltop Times We've sent out another survey to our customers, asking how they have been served. These customers include the different major commands we service as well as many of the fighter wings affected by our work. We have polled colonels and generals as well as staff and master sergeants. From the results we've seen so far, there is still some dissatisfaction with the support they get from us. Much of this dissatisfaction is caused by our work schedule. We continue to consider that element along with all other relevant data as we evaluate results of the customer survey, review appropriate indicators and decide whether changes are necessary. But any change to a work schedule four days days, five must be supported by evidence that the change is better than the status quo. Productivity and customer support have always been the focus of our efforts, and part of productivity is employee morale. Ogden ALC is committed to providing the best support possible to our and the work schedule which does that best is the one we will use. Global Power and Reach for America. " "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force -- W Thomas L. Miner - TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 394-965- 5 (OGDEN) OR 532-777- 4 Hill AFB Editorial Staff: Commander, Maj. Gen. Pat Condon Maj. J. Robert Ballew .Director, Public Affairs Office Chief of Internal Information Bill Orndorff Editor Frances Kotakowsky Staff writers Sue Berk, A.B. Russell Deadlines: Editorial and "Around the Hill" Hem, 3 p.m. Tuesday, nine days before publication; sports articles) 9 a.m. Monday, week of publication; classified ads, 2 p.m. Tuesday, week of publication. For more information, call the editor, Ext. OO-AL- C (SALT LAKE CITY). |