Kooskia crews use oil-delivery innovation
from Blackfoot in latest 5S event

Vehicle maintenance is something crews focus on year round, but especially in winter when as many plows as possible are needed on the roads. The Kooskia shed implemented a Blackfoot innovation from 2016 to improve their maintenance processes just before becoming the regional facility for oil changes.

The innovation began with Bruce Martin from Blackfoot maintenance when he first proposed his idea to Chief Administration Officer Char McArthur and pioneered a new oil-delivery system for his shed to improve safety and enhance efficiency.

The idea took shape in fall 2017 when the shed switched out its metal drums that stored all bulk fluids for clear plastic totes. The new totes allowed crew members to easily gauge fluid levels; they no longer had to tip the drums to guess and stop halfway through an oil change to refill their supply when their guesses were off.

Since they would be rented from and filled by local companies, the Blackfoot crew also no longer had to worry about delivery and the risks associated with moving 55-gallon drums.

“The oil storage has been a really good thing,” Martin said. “It has worked out so well that as far as I know some parts of District 5 and 6 have implemented it, and so has District 4.”

After learning about the Moscow shed’s transition to clear totes, Jasun Walker and Toby Thibert from the Kooskia shed thought that they could also benefit from an improved oil-delivery system.

Foreman Mark Schuster gave the pair the green light to pursue a system in Kooskia, which was set to become the regional facility for oil changes. With assistance from Mike Towne, they led the way during the latest 5S event in August by designing and installing the new system.

With vehicles from every shed between Powell and Craigmont set to be serviced in Kooskia, suitable space was needed to do the work in-house. The initial problem was accommodating the oil system and a plow in the shed at the same time. The shed was not deep enough, but after a brainstorming session with the 5S team and a representative from A & I Distributors (which would provide the oil ), Randy Danner from ITD's safety and risk management team delivered a new rack for the totes that made the most of the shop's dimensions by being placed seven feet above the floor.

The team transitioned from using 5-gallon and 1-quart containers to totes ranging from 80 to 120 gallons that are refilled by a Spokane company, eliminating the cleanup involved with cardboard boxes, empty oil jugs and 55-gallon drums..

Walker and Thibert finished assembly the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and one week before product was delivered.

A key participant in the 5S event, organizational development specialist Jim Phillips had much to say about their achievement: “In spite of setbacks, hurdles, space limitations, designing a system to fit a unique set up, and time to do it, Toby and Jasun were the driving force that made this time and labor-saving system a reality. Their efforts were Herculean.”

In both sheds, and every shed between, changes to the oil-delivery-and-storage process aligned with the 5S principles of organization and efficiency for the benefit of crews. If you don’t know about 5S yet, talk to your manager, continuous- improvement folks or Phillips. 


Published 01-18-19