2020 Summer of Spreading Innovation Success
During the summer of 2020, we worked with the Maintenance team to implement eight innovations over a 3-month period. These ideas range from improving plow equipment to protecting rodder hoses. Not only do these ideas have the potential to save thousands of dollars, they also increase efficiency and ease of the many tasks that our Maintenance staff does to serve Colorado. Learn more about these highlighted ideas below!
Innovation Highlights
By Matthew Sterns, TM-I Region 4
This innovation utilizes repurposed JOMA blades to protect and reinforce Whitke and Elgin-style mechanical brooms used on Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) snowplows. This design eliminates the need to repair old brooms and saves time and money.
Lean Everyday Ideas- JOMA Blades 7.20.20 (1).mp4By Allan Winter, TM-III Region 5, Cortez
The Culvert Wheel alleviates the need to continuously replace damaged hydrovac rodder hoses by allowing the hose to roll around the end of the culvert without coming into contact with it. This small solution make a huge difference in protecting hoses and saving thousands of dollars in the process.
by Tom Fick, TM-III, Region 3 Grand Junction
The Wing Cart lets one person remove a wing plow in just 6 minutes without any other equipment. It also eliminates working under a loader bucket to attach the pins and arms.
LEI Wing Cart Video.mp4by Norman Parra, TM-III, Region 4
Snow and slush splashing back on snowplow windshields creates difficult driving conditions and takes time to remove. The Plow Shield minimizes snow and slush build up simply by being attached to the front of the plow.
Lean Everyday Ideas Summer of Spreading Innovation Success (1).mp4by Jamie Ward– Transportation Maintenance II, Anthony A Martinez– Equipment Mechanic III, Donald Gustin- Equipment Mechanic III, and Kelly Jerome- Transportation Maintenance II, Region 1
Even in Colorado's desert climate, rust damages and deteriorates equipment. This innovation simply gets sprayed onto equipment after snowstorms when the truck is washed and will protect it from rusting. Equipment Rust-Prevention Coating extends the life of equipment and, in turn, saves time and money.
Draft_Equipment Rust Prevention Coating.mp4by Robert Bell, Utilities Project Manager in central Colorado and Kevin Macvittie, Maintenance and Operations Training Manager
There are at least five different systems in the plows that our Maintenance crews work in. It is crucial for our teams to have proper knowledge of each of these systems before they hit the roads. Robert Bell and Kevin Macvittie have created and facilitated the Winter Operations Training that goes into detail about each of these systems.
Improving Plow Operation Training LEI.mp4by Timothy Holbrook, TM-III, Region 3 Northern Colorado
The people of Colorado depend on our Maintenance staff to quickly and efficiently plow our roads and highways after every snowstorm. That is why it is important to incorporate any innovation that gets our plows back on the roads quicker. This innovation allows for de-icer to be loaded onto two trucks at a time using a breakpoint T. Not only does it increase outflow by 30 gal/min, it also decreases the load out cycle time by 20%.
Lean Everyday Ideas Summer of Spreading Innovation Success (2).mp4by Kevin McWhirt- TM III, Region 3, Western Colorado
Even the smallest of innovations can have a huge difference. This innovation significantly speeds up the time it takes to fill truck's windshield washer fluid. Not only does it save time, but it also creates a hands-free filling option, and it only uses two parts that cost less than $5!
Lean Everyday Ideas- Lube Spout.mp4by Wesley Vetter, Machining Trades IV
How much money do you think a 3D printer costs? Typically, people's first answer to this is somewhere in the thousands of dollars range. However, Wes Vetter and the team at the KOA Maintenance Facility purchased one for less than $500! With this new piece of technology, they have been able to create parts to their plows and machinery that could normally cost thousands to purchase and days to deliver. The 3D printer pays for itself and it takes up a very small amount of space. Take a look at this step into the future:
3D Printer LEI Video.mp4by Todd Natale, Transportation Maintenance Region 2
At CDOT, we focus on safety for the community as well as for our workers in the drastic weather conditions that occur. Adding lighted wings to the plows allows for better visibility not only for the everyday person on the road, but also for the driver during the harsh winters. This innovation was somewhat of a simple fix, that has a huge impact during the winter here in Colorado.