IDEA Program is big win for AF, you

  • Published
  • By Mike Prystajko
  • Manpower and Organization chief
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  As our nation and its taxpayers experience tough economic times and work hard toward tightening the proverbial money belt, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the benefits of a program which allows you to make everyday improvements in your job while providing potential to earn personal recognition and monetary awards for approved ideas which benefit our Air Force. Your efforts to identify ways to save money and time in accomplishing our day-to-day activities will also ensure the 436th Airlift Wing remains a good steward of American taxpayer dollars. For those unfamiliar, the name of the program is the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, or IDEA Program.

Approved Air Force IDEA Program submissions receive either monetary or non-monetary recognition depending on a number of eligibility factors, namely the submitter status and job duties at the time of idea submission, type of idea and approval, and the intangible benefits or validated tangible savings derived from implementation. Approved ideas may be eligible to receive up to 15 percent of validated first-year tangible savings (measured in dollars saved), with a ceiling of $10,000 per single-idea submission.

Initiatives already approved through another process, referred to in the Air Force IDEA Program as a Separate Improvement Process (SIP), may be submitted as a confirmatory or after-the-fact idea and are awarded $200 for associated intangible benefits. Monetary awards are paid by the unit the member was assigned to at time of submission. Award amounts are distributed evenly among all eligible members of team and group submissions.

The Air Force IDEA Program, or Suggestion program as it was originally called, is entrenched in military history. In order to increase productivity for its civilian employees during World War II, the War Department provided incentives for improving the efficiency of government operations while conserving manpower, materials and money. As a result, an employee suggestion and awards program was developed in 1943. With cash incentives for employees to find and suggest improvements the suggestion program was implemented. The plan encouraged employees to submit suggestions on ways to increase the quantity and quality of performance and improved procedures. In 1944, the Army Air Force extended the program to military personnel. In 1946, Executive Order 9817 solidified the rules for the civilian suggestion program. In 1953, the Air Force garnered legislation for the program. In 1974 the Air Force suggestion program administration responsibilities were reassigned to the Air Force Military Personnel Center. And in 1985, the program was aligned with within the Air Force Management Engineering Agency, and became part of Manpower and Organization. In 1997, the name of the program was changed to the Air Force IDEA Program.

So how do individuals, teams or groups submit their original ideas for consideration in this program? The process begins by accessing the Air Force IDEA Program Data System online from their workstation by navigating to https://ipds.csd.disa.mil. After creating a user ID and password, the system will allow you to research other initiatives stored in the process improvement databank and steps you through the idea submission process. IPDS facilitates automated routing and tracking of submissions from start to finish.

Recognized as a command leader in 2008, Dover AFB boasted a 40:1 return on investment in our Air Force IDEA Program oversight, meaning that the Air Force realized nearly a $500,000 savings for awarding barely more than $12,000 in the fiscal year. We can raise the bar even higher in 2009.

As you can see, the Air Force IDEA Program is ever-changing but the purpose of our program remain the same as the original concept developed in 1943; self initiated productivity improvements. Together, we can make a difference in our productivity and use of our most coveted resources; manpower, material and money, one IDEA at a time.