AA's Return to Profitability

The Christian Science Monitor featured an interesting article about how American Airlines (my preferred airline) returned to profitability after five years in the red. Interesting examples include:

"Two American Airlines mechanics didn't like having to toss out $200 drill bits once they got dull. So they rigged up some old machine parts - a vacuum-cleaner belt and a motor from a science project - and built "Thumping Ralph." It's essentially a drill-bit sharpener that allows them to get more use out of each bit. The savings, according to the company: as much as $300,000 a year."

"And it was a group of pilots who realized that they could taxi just as safely with one engine as with two. That was instituted as policy has helped cut American's fuel consumption even as prices have continued to rise to record levels."

Amazing where you can find better ways to do things when you empower your people to innovate.