Success – Idaho Transportation Department

Idaho Transportation Department Paves The Innovation Fast Lane

One Page Success Summary

 About

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is responsible for the state’s transportation infrastructure. ITD manages ongoing highway construction, operations, maintenance, and plans for the future needs of Idaho and its citizens. ITD includes the Highway Division that oversees the state highways and bridges. The department has approximately 1,650 employees spread among six regions. Each region has a board member appointed by the governor for a term of six years. A Chairman oversees the legislatively appointed 6 member board which provides direction for the department.

 The Challenge

In February 2011, ITD Director, Brian Ness, wanted to create a results-focused work culture that would produce effective and accountable state government. He wanted ITD to operate in a more business-like manner and address budget limitations by empowering employees to find cost-effective solutions to everyday problems that would eliminate organizational waste in every area possible. The executive team adopted four strategies including an employee-driven innovation strategy that required ITD personnel to learn and apply the tools and techniques of Operational Excellence to succeed. 

 MEP’s Role

Char McArthur, the Chief Administrative Officer at ITD, sought help in 2016 from the Operational Excellence (OE) professionals at Idaho’s TechHelp, a member of the MEP National Network™. The TechHelp OE team, along with ITD Continuous Improvement professionals first defined a training road map for leaders within the agency that listed 10 major areas of focus. Phase one was for the OE Team to consult and train senior ITD leaders in using Lean methodologies to identify problems and opportunities that could be addressed by ITD’s Rapid Innovation Teams. 

 In phase two, the TechHelp Operational Excellence team cascaded the Principles of Lean throughout the organization to over 150 ITD leaders and potential leaders. TechHelp trained ten teams from various business units and regions in Lean tools. The OE team worked closely with ITD Leadership to create a culture of continuous improvement among participants. Each team was given a sizable organizational problem or opportunity and was asked to find and implement a solution given time and resource constraints.  Each team consisted of a facilitator, two champions (designated senior leadership team members), and a TechHelp coach. The facilitator and champions provided tools, discussions, and suggestions that helped teams arrive at effective decisions. As coaches, TechHelp OE specialists guided team members on how to apply Lean tools and processes and how to facilitate teamwork.

Under the leadership of Ness and McArthur, TechHelp worked with ITD to create an employee-driven innovation program that led to the following results as of Dec 31, 2020:

• Implemented more than 1169 innovations,
• Saved nearly $10.8 million.
• Created 678 customer-service improvements.
• Provided Lean Training to teams (more than 150) across the organization.
• Saved about 231,270 contractor and employee hours (published by ITD).

ITD was recognized in 2016 and 2019 by the Idaho Technology Council as a finalist for Idaho’s Innovative Company of the Year.

Results

Under the leadership of Ness and McArthur, TechHelp worked with ITD to create an employee-driven innovation program that led to the following results as of Dec 31, 2020:

• Implemented more than 1169 innovations.
• Made productive investments of $720,000
• Saved nearly $10.8 million.
• Retained 400 jobs. 
• Created 678 customer-service improvements.
• Provided Lean Training to teams (more than 150) across the organization.
• Saved about 231,270 contractor and employee hours (published by ITD).

ITD was recognized in 2016 and 2019 by the Idaho Technology Council as a finalist for Idaho’s Innovative Company of the Year. Working with TechHelp, ITD empowered employees and put forward innovative improvement opportunities. Team members learned how to apply Lean tools and processes that improved organizational efficiency.