Program saves INEEL millions of dollars

ARCO – New business practices at Idaho’s nuclear site have saved more than $40 million over the past 18 months, according to INEEL officials.

By Emily Jones – Pocatello Idaho State Journal Writer

Management officials said Six Sigma, a method of collecting data and mapping resources, has helped save millions at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

Management Systems Restructuring Vice President Paul Rosenkoetter said the need to cut costs came to the forefront when INEEL’s budget was reduced during fiscal year 2001.

Through the program, a quality assurance team found less expensive tools for some projects, saving $3.2 million.

"You get something that still gets the job done, and costs less," said INEEL spokesman John Walsh.

INEEL workers are studying a possibility of cutting the number of machine and tool shops, and have also consolidated chemical storage.

In some projects unneeded steps were eliminated, Rosenkoetter said.

"Over time, with these complicated processes at the INEEL, a number of additional steps have been added," he said. "We’re looking at doing things right the first time."

The program also helped INEEL workers send 3,100 cubic meters of transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico

Rosenkoetter said Six Sigma will be used throughout INEEL.

The cost-cutting program is also being used in other Department of Energy sites such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Savannah River site near Aiken, S.C.

Emily Jones covers Bingham County, Fort Hall and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory for the Journal. She can be reached at 239-3175 or by e-mail at [email protected].

http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2003/02/13/news/local/news08.txt