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

On August 29, 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.

Dale R. Eisel, sheet metal mechanic and Clive D. Jordan, aircraft exam ordinance system mechanic, received recognition for developing a new procedure and recommending the manufacture of a reaming fixture used in the overhaul of the SJU-17 Ejection Seat. The fixture allows the artisan to ream upper and lower mounting holes to the proper size the fist time. With approximately 50 percent of all Ejection Seats requiring overhaul, the use of this fixture significantly improves hole quality and reduces potential rework and collateral damage, thus saving labor and material.

James W. Odom, planner/estimator (P&E), earned official recognition for suggesting the repair of broken mounting lugs on the F-14 Hydraulic Oil Cooler Housing. The housing, which is neither available through normal supply chains nor procurable, can be repaired, thus preventing damaged units from being surveyed. This idea has already proven to be effective and economical with annual savings of over $100,000 per year.

James Padgett, painter, was recognized for recommending P-3 cockpit seats be painted a single gray color vice using the traditional two-tone paint scheme consisting of gray and burnt orange. This reengineered process not only saves material dollars, but also it significantly reduces turn-around-time by two thirds. Over $15,000 in tangible savings is expected the first year of implementation.

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, NAVAIR Jax Public Affairs Specialist.

Photo caption: From left to right: James Padgett, painter; James Odom, planner/estimator; Captain Karl Yeakel, Commanding Officer; Clive Jordan, aircraft exam ordinance system mechanic; and Dale Eisel, sheet metal mechanic.

– USN –