Employee suggestion saves Depot $500,000
By Susan Brink, NADEP JAX, Public Affairs Specialist

Garrold Truman, Seat Mechanic, Naval Air Depot, Jacksonville (NADEP JAX), Fla. recently received recognition through the Depot’s Valuable Ideas Save Investments of NADEP (VISION) program. Truman works in the ejection seat area which repairs the LS-1A Inertia Reel Ball Screw Assembly.

Truman recommended two suitable substitute ball bearings used during the overhaul of ejection seats instead of repairing or discarding the costly ball screw assembly. The use of these ball bearings cost pennies and resulted in significant cost savings of nearly $500,000 during the first year of implementation by eliminating the cost of an extension assembly and the ball screw assembly. Their elimination reduced component replacement and increased aircrew safety.

Capt. Karl Yeakel, Commanding Officer, NADEP JAX presented Truman with the VISION award and applauded his effort to improve quality, productivity and economy at NADEP JAX.

-- USN --