Digital technology saves money, reduces wastes

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Any amateur photographer knows the benefits of digital cameras -- no film, messy chemicals or lots of negatives to store.
Last week, the non-destructive inspection section on Vance Air Force Base took advantage of that same technology to save money, improve work methods and eliminate hazardous waste.
"Bud Durheim, our lead NDI technician picked up some literature and information about this new technology while at a conference," said Brian Rochester, aircraft component repair production supervisor. "From that information we learned that digital X-ray, as opposed to the conventional cellulose process, made reading film easy and accurate, and it reduced man-hours and hazardous waste by an alarming amount."
"In short, the process of digital imaging is identical to that of taking pictures at home with a digital camera," Mr. Durheim said. "Instead of looking at hard copies and storing thousands of bulky X-ray films in countless boxes, the digital images are viewed on a computer and stored electronically on a disc. Because every X-ray taken for every aircraft stationed at an Air Force base must be saved, the new digital files make filing and storage much smaller and simpler to use."
Realizing the technology would benefit the Vance AFB mission was the easy part. Funding the $119,000 equipment would be the next challenge. That's where the Fast Payback Capital Investment project came in.
"FASCAP is an Air Force program that offers money for equipment that will pay for itself within two years with savings realized from improved methods," said Tech. Sgt. Vincente Price, base FASCAP program manager. "In this case, savings from switching to the digital technology would pay for the equipment in eight months."
"After researching and calculating the return on investment, we compiled the information and requisitioned for a digital X-ray imaging product through FASCAP," Mr. Rochester said. "This new process will save the Air Force more than $177,000 a year. The environment also benefits because we eliminated the hazardous waste by eliminating chemicals used in cellulose film processing.
"This is the future of X-ray technology for the Air Force and the aviation industry. It is not only an easy and accurate method for technicians to read X-ray images, but it will reduce precious man-hours and leave a safer environment for future generations," Mr. Rochester said.