Original Date: 04/07/1997
Revision Date: 04/14/2003

Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) has implemented an automated vacancy announcement system to eliminate the printing and posting of job vacancies. The previous method used to inform employees of vacancies consisted of posting three to six sheets of paper on 325 bulletin boards. Typically, 400 to 500 vacancies were posted during a year. Problems with the previous method included the long lead time for printing and distribution which added seven to ten days to the process. The cost of printing was escalating at a factor of two times over a two-year period. Many times the announcement would disappear when an employee would take it off the bulletin board to make copies.

The new vacancy announcement system uses CCMAIL to post the vacancy electronically, saving seven to ten days in printing and posting the announcement. There are no printing costs, very little distribution costs, no bulletin board upkeep costs, and it is environmentally sound since no paper is generated. By accessing their CCMAIL, employees can now get the announcement even if they are on travel. The first world wide web posting for an RIA vacancy was on March 31, 1997.

The new system has been accepted by the union and employees. The only drawback has been in the manufacturing area where employees do not have as much access to computers. The union has set up computers where employees can come into the union office to view vacancy announcements. Plans are also underway to set up computers in common areas such as break rooms in the production areas. The new announcement system saves money and labor, provides more timely and efficient notice to employees of vacancies, and provides faster response for the department with the vacancy. The FY96 cost savings was $2,816.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.