Innovative work center saves thousands

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nick Plante
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently challenged the Department of Defense to innovate by introducing the new value, efficiency and saving tomorrow, or INVEST, contest in mid-August, and for at least one work center here, ingenuity has saved more than $131,000 since 2000.

The Incirlik Fabric Care Facility proves innovative ideas can lead to hard cash savings.

The facility is operated by 17 Turkish host-nation employees, 11 of which have been employed there for more than 20 years. They're responsible for the laundering and dry cleaning of approximately 50 to 60 thousand items per month, and they have incorporated creative ideas making their processes more efficient.

"The Fabric Care Facility's mission is to provide high standard and economical laundry/dry cleaning services for the 39th Air Base Wing," said Zafer Cetindemir, Incirlik Fabric Care Facility manager. "The facility also offers quality of life services for Air Force personnel and their dependants such as carpet cleaning, free carpet pickup and delivery, furniture and car interior cleaning."

The facility includes the main laundering center in building 484 and a customer pickup point in building 883 serving multiple organizations on base. The FCF also provides support to the fitness center, the clinic and lodging along with providing rug cleaning, launder and dry cleaning services to Incirlik personnel and their dependants.

The staff also takes pride in making their customers happy.

"Some days we have many customers and on other days there are only a few, but regardless, my job as an account technician and as a cashier is important because the quality of service matters," said Ibrahim Birbiri, Incirlik Fabric Care Facility.

Beginning in 2000, the facility's staff initiated a series of self-help projects saving an estimated $50,000 in labor and maintenance costs. The projects replaced antiquated machinery and improved the aesthetics of the facility with new pipe lines, ceiling tiles, cabinets and paint.

"It's important to improve our processes, to make them safe and to make the facility better for the Air Force," said Bedir Tanir, Fabric Care Facility mechanic.

In addition to conventional self-help projects the staff also focused on improvements with ideas "outside the box."

One forward thinking idea was put into action in 2006 when the team designed and manufactured their own hanger-making machine saving approximately $12,000 ($3,000 per year) or 50 percent in hanger costs, Mr. Cetindemir said.

"We are so proud of our folks at the Fabric Care Facility," said Christine Frazier, 39th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight chief. "They have been recognized numerous times by Air Force level inspection teams for their efforts."

Ms. Frazier said the recognition was well deserved and could be directly attributed to the results achieved over the recent years and those still being added.

Mr. Cetindemir said the staff's efforts in 2007 resulted in a total of $68,600 in savings to date; roughly a $65,000 savings in operational costs by converting a dated dry cleaning machine into a newer and environmentally friendly version and $3,600 in savings ($1,200 per year) by designing and manufacturing an improved carpet rinsing/drying machine that reduced the drying time of carpets and increased business by an estimated 20 percent.

A year later they were still finding ways to improve operations and to save money.

In 2008, the team created a garment bag cutting and sealing machine recouping $250 per year for a total of $500 that was being lost before the new machine was introduced for a total of $500.

Mr. Tanir, the designer and engineer of the various creative machines, said he came up with the ideas because there was a problem that needed a solution and he was happy to save the Air Force money.

The facility's staff said they're not through introducing innovative ideas, and they're always thinking of ways to improve their processes.

When Mr. Cetindemir was asked if the facility had any new ideas that could be submitted to Secretary Gates' INVEST contest he said, "We currently aren't working on a project, but if we spot a problem to be solved or find an area where money could be saved then that will be our new project."