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Innovation is encouraged and is something that maintenance forces are famous for. As discussed throughout this manual, there are many approaches maintenance forces can take to accomplish their task and activities. Maintenance forces are sometimes dependent upon the equipment, materials, and the experience of the maintenance personnel within their areas. It is so important that maintenance forces exchange ideas and thoughts as it helps the Department to continually come up with ways to increase productivity while improving the safety of employees and the traveling public.
Every year UDOT highlights the innovations that have been expressed, developed, and implemented throughout the past year on UDOT’s Innovation Station website. These innovations help others see what the Department is doing and encourages others to think outside the box.
An example of some great innovations that have come out of maintenance recently are:
Barrier Straighteners
Plow Blade Holders
Top Five Project identification for Maintenance projects (Region 4)
Use of deicing materials to extend active burn times and use of less material (mixing different types of material to provide a quick burn and then slow release to keep from refreezing).
T-posts drivers
There is also a UDOT Innovation Council that is tasked with supporting and promoting a strong culture of innovation across UDOT. The council provides a means of organized support to individual innovators, or innovative teams, that are positioned as implementation champions in their irrespective disciplines. This includes providing:
Innovation outreach and promotion
Innovation process mentoring
Funding guidance, e.g. STIC, Innovation Deployment funds, etc.
Network connections
Recognition for success
The council also aids in capturing and sharing implementation success stories across UDOT that are memorialized in UDOT’s annual Innovation and Efficiencies Report. In addition, the council supports new ideation efforts, innovation funding selections, innovation of the year award-related ranking processes, and engagement through UDOT’s Annual Conference.
Don’t be afraid to try new things as it spurs on others to think outside the box and can lead to improved quality while reducing costs.
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