Automated Data Processing Equipment system gets lean

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Airmen who have been a custodians for office equipment probably know the process of accountability has been sketchy at times, even frustrating for those who are trying to use the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office. 

No more, says Dyess' 7th Communication Squadron - they've taken the automated data processing equipment system and 'leaned' it out to become 60 percent faster and 80 percent more space-efficient, in cooperation with the Air Force Smart Operations 21st century initiative. 

"Most of the custodians on base aren't (in the information management career field)," said Tom Hoover, 7th CS ADPE manager. That can make the ADPE job difficult because they have limited knowledge of software and computer items. 

"We've created a central turn-in spot for DRMO products, saving a number of man hours and costs that are associated with ADPE equipment turn-in," Mr. Hoover said. "I couldn't even tell you the number of complaints we were receiving from custodians who had no place to store the equipment they were waiting to turn in." 

In addition to the central turn-in spot, the office will purchase new hard drive shredders and shrink-wrapping machines, saving money and time, he said. 

Each year, they expect to save about 4,000 man hours, $8,000, and more than 141 days, said he said. 

"We're doing everything faster, better, and cheaper," he said. 

Colonel Timothy Ray, 7th Bomb Wing commander, put his stamp of approval on the new process Aug. 30. 

"I'm a huge fan of this idea," he said. "The Air Combat Command has specifically allocated for AFSO21 projects, so we are going to use that here for equipment we need to get the job done." 

This is what Colonel Ray called "a benchmark program," a way of divesting time-consuming steps and focusing more on things that matter. 

"When you have so many things to do and only so many people to do them with, you've got to cut time on some processes," he said. "We have to be good stewards of our resources, and ultimately the tax payers' resources."