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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
I attend a meeting every week in which, as part of my team, have to submit cost saving ideas for my company. If I fail to submit, it stands against me in my performance review.
Now my predicament is that I sit behind my computer or move about within my office all day long. How on earth am I meant to think up wonderful cost saving ideas? Our guys have the added advantage that they are technical and are involved on the production line. Cost saving ideas are a whizz for them.
I have already submitted ideas such as implementing paper recycling, enclosing and locking notice boards to prevent me constantly replacing documents (waste in employee time) but that is where my thought ideas and processes end.
It is a large company manufactuiring automotive components.
Any ideas would be welcomed!!!
Sabrina
Posted by partlycloudy on February 1, 2005, at 5:07:20
In reply to Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
Any administrative ideas like what you've suggested are usually welcome. How about reusing printed paper on the reverse side for non-critical documents? (Recycling before you toss the paper in the recycling bin.)
Encouraging the company to buy recycled paper products (saves future costs).
Refillable ink cartidges for printers
Buying recycled toner cartridges
Car pool incentives for employees to travel togethereco-friendly pc
Posted by Dinah on February 1, 2005, at 8:20:24
In reply to Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
I could never work for a large company.
I'd probably get fired for suggesting that managers not waste the valuable employee time by asking them to do something so far outside their area of core compentencies and that performance reviews ought to be based on an employee's performance of their own duties, not their manager's duties.
Which is clearly not something I'd advise you to do. :)
Posted by Wildflower on February 1, 2005, at 10:51:28
In reply to Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
My company went through the same thing. I'm not sure how many of these would apply to you but I thought I'd list them anyway. (I hate some of them):
- eliminate sick days and replace with paid time off days (basically if you call in sick, it takes away from your vacation time)
- offer local numbers as an alternative to using 800 numbers (we were using 800 numbers to call offices down the street)
- use email (or an intranet site) to send out notices versus printing them on paper or sending them to each employees home
- auctioning off company vehicles that are no longer used or just coming off of a lease
- consolidate the purchasing of office supplies so that not every department is ordering them and creating excess
- company calendars will no longer be free. each employee is responsible for buying his/her own calendar
- reward employees that submit significant cost savings ideas
I've got more but I just don't know if they will apply to you...
Posted by sunny10 on February 1, 2005, at 13:19:40
I suggested buying a scanner ONCE to save records as non-changeable images for record retention, instead of paying an archiving company on an ongoing basis to hold boxes of old docs.
This also improves employee productivity because if there is a question as to what clients have asked for/gotten (whatever your business scenario), the employee no longer has to get up from their desk and go searching through file cabinets to get their answers- it saves time for each employee enabling them to spend their time more lucratively for the company on new business. The answers are right in the computer drive folders. The bosses liked that...On time management, we also all order lunch to be delivered to the office and eat at our desks. (in our company, the company actually gives us an allowance towards lunches; we also order via intranet with a choice of three restaurant menus per day to order from which the company then gets a discount at the restaurants for steady business) The company pays less for our lunch allowance than they pay us per hour, so we eat at our desks on the "free food", giving them a good hour/hour and a half more of our productivity! A few of us have thought it out and realized that it is win-win for our employers, and not necessarily a "perk" of the job, but we don't much mind the convenience it offers us, either!
Posted by Snoozin on February 1, 2005, at 14:18:44
In reply to Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
How about implementing an employee wellness program -- which basically educates and rewards employees for heatlhy behavior -- cuts down on HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS. Smoking cessation programs, exercise programs, weight loss programs.
I have all kinds of health insurance/HR ideas if you want.....don't know if they apply to you or not.
Good luck!
Susan
> I attend a meeting every week in which, as part of my team, have to submit cost saving ideas for my company. If I fail to submit, it stands against me in my performance review.
>
> Now my predicament is that I sit behind my computer or move about within my office all day long. How on earth am I meant to think up wonderful cost saving ideas? Our guys have the added advantage that they are technical and are involved on the production line. Cost saving ideas are a whizz for them.
>
> I have already submitted ideas such as implementing paper recycling, enclosing and locking notice boards to prevent me constantly replacing documents (waste in employee time) but that is where my thought ideas and processes end.
>
> It is a large company manufactuiring automotive components.
>
> Any ideas would be welcomed!!!
>
> Sabrina
Posted by 64bowtie on February 1, 2005, at 14:47:36
In reply to Re: Cost Saving Ideas - help please » saw, posted by Snoozin on February 1, 2005, at 14:18:44
Howdy,
The biggest gazunk(s) in the company payables is shipping and insurance... If you 'don't-do-good' shipping and/or insurance, offer additional income items like auctioning off company owned real estate and fully depreciated assets like vehicles and furniture, as was suggested above. Another approach is you can offer to become an internet expert so that they can save on help-desk costs for your department. There's lotsa practical non-technical things go on at the internet that not knowing how to do wastes ions in time and money!
Hope this helps.....
Rod
Posted by 64bowtie on February 1, 2005, at 14:50:10
In reply to Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
Posted by sunny10 on February 1, 2005, at 15:19:15
In reply to Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by saw on February 1, 2005, at 5:03:01
mine posted below the thread for some reason...
Posted by 64bowtie on February 1, 2005, at 22:01:11
In reply to Re: Cost Saving Ideas - help please, posted by sunny10 on February 1, 2005, at 15:19:15
Posted by Dinah on February 1, 2005, at 22:03:27
In reply to »sunny10» DrBob or (((dinah))) can move it for you (nm), posted by 64bowtie on February 1, 2005, at 22:01:11
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2005, at 0:47:52
In reply to already done :) (nm) » 64bowtie, posted by Dinah on February 1, 2005, at 22:03:27
Posted by Dinah on February 2, 2005, at 0:55:05
In reply to Re: thanks (nm) » Dinah, posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2005, at 0:47:52
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2005, at 1:45:14
In reply to hmmmm... no smiley. i must be in deep... (nm), posted by Dinah on February 2, 2005, at 0:55:05
Posted by saw on February 2, 2005, at 2:03:56
In reply to Re: :-) (nm) » Dinah, posted by Dr. Bob on February 2, 2005, at 1:45:14
for your wonderful ideas.
I do need to add that almost all have been implemented. Particularly in admin as that is my field.
As far as health insurance and those good suggestions, they are already in place under the company's compulsory medical insurance.
There is, however, one suggestion that I will put forward. There has been extensive renovating at our premises and along with the renovating, there has been much buying of new office furniture. (Fancy stuff at that). I have not seen the old furniture go anywhere in particular. I am not going to ask, I am simply going to suggest that old office furniture be auctioned. Thanks Rod!
Please continue to share your ideas. I have to do this once a week!
Sabrina
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