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CMS member gets great IDEA, cash

  • Published
  • By Airman David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A 56th Component Maintenance Squadron technician received $10,000 from the Luke Air Force Base IDEA program early this year.

In these tough economic times when many companies have balance sheets in the red, Andrew Taylor, 56th CMS electro-environmental systems technician, started his new year with some extra cash.

Mr. Taylor designed a test bench for aircraft external lighting, allowing technicians to test components that were historically expendable and return them to service. This invention has saved Luke more than $400,000.

"It took a little over a year to build the test bench," Mr. Taylor said. "I worked on it in my free time and fabricated it in the shop."

"I invented the bench so we could test the 10 component parts without having to send them to the manufacturing company," Mr. Taylor said. "We knew we could test the lighting parts for the aircraft, but didn't have the material to test them. We got the technical data to test these parts, then sat down and figured out how to build the bench."

The IDEA program is for federal employees and military members.

Those who come up with inventions for the IDEA program can be awarded money ranging from $200 to 10,000.

"An idea submission requires three conditions be met in order to be eligible, said James Ferris, 56th Force Support Squadron IDEA program manager. "The submission must include the current method, the recommended change and the benefit to the Air Force."

The IDEA program decides on the amount of money to give a person based on tangible and intangible ideas.

"Tangible ideas go up to $10,000 based upon one year's savings," Mr. Ferris said. "A person will receive a lower amount of money for intangible ideas, such as a work process that improves efficiency."

"Coming from a maintenance background I think it's very useful," Mr. Ferris said. "Luke will save $100,000 this year alone. I am amazed that someone hasn't thought of this before."