ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Col. Martine Kidd began both of the town hall sessions July 12 by telling employees how much she missed them.
As the strains of "Sweet Home Alabama" filled the air, she detailed how thrilled she was to be back home at Anniston Army Depot.
"There is no place I'd rather be than right here with you guys," she said. "I'm incredibly proud to be your commander and incredibly proud of the work you do every day."
The town hall meetings were held in the Final Paint Shop and Physical Fitness Center, in the morning and afternoon respectively. Both sessions were televised live on the LAN.
Kidd reminded employees who their ultimate customer is -- the men and women on the front lines of battle -- while detailing how the work done here is not only vital, but amazing as well.
"Every organization in the Army Materiel Command and TACOM Life Cycle Management Command is important to the Army," she said. "But, we are so cool."
Kidd contrasted the equipment rebuilt or repaired at other depots -- such as radios, satellite equipment and trucks -- with that seen here at ANAD. While all is necessary for the Army to function, no other depot sees the firepower ANAD rebuilds -- such as the M1, Stryker, Assault Breacher Vehicle, Paladin and small arms.
SAFETY
Safety topped the agenda items for each of the meetings as Kidd reminded the workforce to be vigilant during the heat to avoid accidents.
Overexertion now tops the types of accidents in the industrial area.
Kidd asked employees to view themselves as athletes and treat their bodies the way athletes do.
"Think of yourself as an industrial athlete and warm up for work," she said. "Stretch and warm up like you are getting ready to exercise."
All employees are asked to be safety leaders, especially with the implementation of the OSHA Challenge.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Challenge, which is detailed on page four, is a program intended to help ANAD exceed OSHA standards.
"What we're trying to do is a culture change, where the employee on the floor is in charge of their own safety," said Scotty Arrington, chief of the Special Project Office, which is assisting cost centers with the OSHA Challenge.
"To me, going through the process of the OSHA Challenge is about making the depot safer, so you are safer at work," Kidd told the workforce.
SHARP
Kidd reiterated the importance of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program.
"If you feel something is happening, you should absolutely report it," said Kidd, as she discussed the fact that three sexual harassment reports had been filed this year.
Two of those reports were found to have been identified as misconduct, but not related to SHARP and one was unfounded.
In response to an employee question during the morning town hall regarding SHARP investigations and whether or not there were repercussions for falsified claims, George Worman, the Depot's chief counsel, told employees both sides of each report would be fully investigated and the Legal Office would work with the supervisors involved to ensure the underlying issues were resolved.
Employees were reminded of the ways to make a SHARP report:
• Tim Rolfe -- Ext. 7971
• Equal Employment Opportunity Office -- Ext. 6201
• Supervisor
• Commander's Hotline on the Intranet
SUICIDE PREVENTION
Kidd encouraged employees to participate in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training on the installation.
More than 40 employees have taken the course since November and there are slots available for the July and September courses.
The workshop teaches employees how to effectively intervene when they feel a co-worker, family member or friend is considering suicide.
According to Kidd, simply showing a person you care about them by asking if they have considered suicide may be exactly what that friend or co-worker needs.
"Sometimes, you have to have the courage to say, 'Just in case, I'm going to ask,'" she said. "It's much better to intervene and stop someone from making a permanent decision for a temporary problem."
To learn more about ASIST classes or sign up, contact Boyd Scoggins at Ext. 3182 or Angie Durant at Ext. 6294.
WORKLOAD
ANAD's fiscal year 2016 workload has increased. Originally projected at about 2.1 million direct labor hours, the depot is anticipated to have 2.6 million direct labor hours this year.
Likewise, workload is increasing for FY17, which currently is expected to be 2.1 million direct labor hours.
Kidd credits the increase in workload to churn, changed to anticipated new orders after production is set.
While that churn can have a positive impact on the installation, such as when workload increases, it always places a stress on supply chain management.
"We don't say no to work, but, the bottom line is that makes it difficult for you, on the floor," said Kidd. "We do the best we can to stabilize churn and to stabilize the workload."
Overtime is also a consideration as workload changes. Kidd addressed the issue during the town hall meetings, reminding employees that keeping overtime to a minimum helps the depot be more cost effective.
However, she said, overtime is often necessary.
ANAD manages its workforce to maintain a level with fewer employees than are needed to do the work. This makes reductions in force and layoffs less likely, but means there is often a need for employees to work overtime.
"We pay very close attention to it and try to keep overtime at a level that is less stressful for you," said Kidd.
ADDITIONAL TOPICS:
• DMM/DPM/DEQ reorganization: The changes to these organizations, with the directorates of Material Management and Production Management recombining and the Directorate of Engineering and Quality splitting into an office for quality and a Directorate of Production Engineering, will be final in October.
• Command Climate Survey: The survey garnered 1,300 responses, the most of any depot survey. Results are expected soon.
• Logistics Modernization Program: Orders have begun to flow in LMP Increment 2 and will increase as time goes on. Kidd called this the "tip of the iceberg."
• Bridge construction: Work on a new bridge near the main gate is expected to begin in late February 2017. Construction is expected to last 36 months.
• Solar project: The solar arrays along Roosevelt Drive and near the former chemical demilitarization facility should be operational in December.
• Shutdown: The depot will be shutdown for preventative maintenance the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Employees will need to utilize 62 hours of annual leave during this time.
• 75th Anniversary Celebration: ANAD will celebrate its 75th anniversary Sept. 1 with a day filled with activities. For more information, see page 8 and watch for updates in TRACKS and on The Morning Show.
QUESTIONS:
• Lights on Roosevelt: Lights were removed because cost was not justified. No safety issues have been identified, however, leadership is looking at ways to improve visibility of the lines on the road.
• E-cigarettes: Vaping is treated like any type of tobacco product and is prohibited inside buildings.
• Dipping/chewing tobacco: These products are not allowed in office environments, classes or meetings, but are allowed in shop areas when an opaque, closed container is used to contain the discharge. Employees are reminded to be respectful of their coworkers.
• Management-directed overtime: Exemptions for mandatory overtime will be reviewed by the supervisor and approved or denied based upon need and the individual situation.
• Tool crib: Employees are encouraged to ask supervisors to order needed tools from the tool crib for delivery to the shops to decrease time away from production.
• Term to perm: There is no legal method to convert term employees to permanent at this time. Legislation has been proposed and ANAD leadership and CPAC are monitoring this closely.
• Retraining when an employee returns to work: The Anniston CPAC Office will have a full article on this topic in the July 28 issue of TRACKS.
• Ways to make ANAD more competitive: Limiting the use of sick leave and ensuring quality of products to reduce re-work time are two ways each employee can help the depot remain competitive. Rework time and excessive use of sick leave add to the installation's rates.
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