Innovative Airman of the Week

Elzie Dugger, 97th Equipment Maintenance branch machinist, was named Innovative Airman of the Week April 1. Dugger noted cost savings could be realized if the C-17 Globemaster III door drilling fixture could be manufactured locally. Mr. Dugger used the Boeing fixture as a template and his skilled craftsmanship to fabricate a copy which will save the Air Force a minimum of $27,000 in shipping costs alone to modify the C-17 aircraft at Altus AFB. The cost of a new fixture is $42,000. At this time there are only four fixtures to support the entire Air Force inventory. The fixtures cost $800 to ship from one base to another. By locally manufacturing this fixture, at a cost of less than $100 in materials and 48 hours in labor, it shortens the turnaround time to accomplish this TCTO requirement. If approved, Altus will always have a fixture in its inventory and an overall cost savings of more than $69,000. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dillon Davis / Released)