Employee suggestions recognized
By Susan Brink, NAVAIR Depot Jax, Public Affairs Specialist

On August 5, 2002, Capt. Karl E. Yeakel, Commanding Officer, Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (NAVAIR Depot Jax) awarded Depot employees through the Valuable Ideas Save Investments Of NADEP (VISION) Program.

Charles G. Delucia, electroplater, received recognition for designing a PVC water deflection system, which was installed on the interior wall of the cooling tower to direct water into an interior reservoir, thus preventing this chemically treated water from splashing and dripping on the exterior walls, vents, and concrete pad. The idea minimizes periodic cleaning of exterior walls, loss of water, and potential chemical contamination of surrounding soil.

Metals Inspectors, Neil E. Ferslew and Warren R. Hansen earned official recognition for their suggestion recommending the discontinuance of x-ray requirements for TF34 fan disks. The elimination of this redundant inspection step was secondary to ultrasonic inspections and has resulted in zero rejects. This idea reduces labor-hours, thus reducing cost and turn-around-time without compromising the integrity of non-destructive inspections.

David E. Ivins, Quality Assurance Specialist was recognized for recommending the use of helical coil inserts in the repair of the CDP/CBP Sensor Housings on the TF34-100A/400B engine’s main fuel control. This idea significantly reduces overhaul cost and turn-around-time, thus increasing productivity and component delivery for both Navy and Air Force customers.

James L. Padgett, painter earned official recognition for the design and construction of a mounting stand utilized in the painting process of P-3 seats. The stand allows seats to be rotated 360 degrees, enabling artisans full access to all surfaces to be painted. Although designed primarily for the P-3 seat, this prototype has proven effective on EA-6B and F-14 seats as well, thus reducing turn-around-time, improving product quality and minimizing potential safety hazards.

Thomas R. Pye, sandblaster was recognized for recommending the recycling of wastewater being discharged from the Jet Spray Guns in the strip hangar. Although the VISION was not adopted, it prompted management to perform “root cause” analysis to determine why excessive water was being discharged. It was found that the Jet Guns were not properly adjusted per the manufacturer’s instructions, highlighting an area that had previously been accepted as proper operation.

Yeakel commended the recipients of the VISION awards and applauded them for their efforts to improve quality, productivity, and economy at NAVAIR Depot Jax.

Photo by Amy Cheshire, Public Affairs Specialist.

Photo caption: From left: Nel Ferslew, Commanding Officer Captain Karl E. Yeakel, David E. Ivins, Charles G. Delucia, James L. Padgett, and Thomas R. Pye.

– USN –