Untitled Document

D-5's Petersdorf saves department time, money and improves efficiency
with paint bead innovation

David Petersdorf of the District 5 Striping Crew came up with an innovative solution to a consistent problem in regard to the application of reflective paint beads last fall, saving the department time and money. In doing so, he also earned a bonus for innovation.

The crew was consistently running out of beads prior to running out of paint, requiring the crew to stop what they were doing and refill the bead gun frequently. Petersdorf's solution was to modify the bead spade (directing more of the beads straight down instead of to the side), guaranteeing that more of the beads land directly on the paint line.

Re-directing the beads so that more of them landed on the four-inch-wide paint stripe allowed a reduction in the operating pressure that supplies the beads. The reduction in the operating pressure gave a corresponding reduction in the amount of beads used. The crew didn¹t go through the beads as quickly, resulting in a 36-percent savings on the use of beads, while still achieving necessary retro-reflectivity.

The new design was implemented for the 2013 season in District 5, resulting in a $52,000 savings. Used statewide, the annual savings would be even greater, based on the number of miles treated.

Steve Gertonson, the D-5 operations manager, calls it maintenance-free, inexpensive and consistent with ITD standards. "It is easy for ITD forces to adapt, and is a simple addition to the striping truck that concentrates reflective beads on the painted stripe. The savings and efficiency benefits ITD and the traveling public."

Ed Bala, District 5 engineer and a member of the fledgling IBP (Innovative Business Practices) group at ITD, said that one of the strategies to foster innovation is to make stories like this more widely known.

"I think if more employees knew about the bonus for innovation, we'd have a lot more applications to review each year, and that would be great!"

As allowed by Idaho Code, employees are eligible through the incentive program to a cash award of 25 percent of the taxpayer savings generated, up to $2,000. Suggestions must increase productivity, conserve state resources, reduce state costs, or improve the morale of state employees.