2024 Poka Yoke Contest Award Winners!
Two hundred poka yokes were submitted and our winners are...
Four years ago, we introduced the term poka yoke and challenged employees to look for, report and offer solutions to potential hazards within their division – then, putting the Safety improvement and risk reduction effort (the poka yoke) into action by implementing the solution. Now, many of our divisions are regularly completing poka yokes and making this risk reduction effort an important part of their everyday processes.
In the past year (November 11 to November 8) two hundred (200) poka yokes were submitted! With so many incredible entries, it was difficult to narrow down the submissions. After careful consideration in the two judging categories, innovation and impact, our winners are:
2024 MOST IMPACTFUL POKA YOKES
FIRST PLACE: Olympic Steel – Gary, IN
Overhead Door Universal Remote
Robert Ashley, Maintenance Manager
SECOND PLACE: Integrity Stainless – Streetsboro, OH
Randy DiBacco, Maintenance Technician
Chris Shrum, Shipping & Receiving Clerk
Honorable Mention: Olympic Steel – Schaumburg, IL
Rack for Corner Boards at CTL Line
John Golly, Maintenance Technician
Claudio Rodriguez, Production Lead
Honorable Mention: Olympic Steel – Schaumburg, IL
Coil OD Markers in Coil Storage Area
John Golly, Maintenance Technician
2024 MOST INNOVATIVE POKA YOKES
FIRST PLACE: Olympic Steel – Schaumburg, IL
Ryan Keith, Quality Manager
SECOND PLACE: Action Stainless – Dallas, TX
Chris Farmer, Operations Manager
Michael Kukoly, Safety & Quality Associate
Leonard Lee, Production Lead
Honorable Mention: Olympic Steel – Minneapolis, MN (Coil)
Added Steps to Coil Grabber Stand
Oscar Garcia, Production Supervisor
Jerry Kowalzek, Maintenance Technician
Kevin Martin, Maintenance Technician
Honorable Mention: Integrity Stainless – Streetsboro, OH
Tool to Create Notch in Slitter Paper Tube
Randy DiBacco, Maintenance Technician
Thanks to All Participants
Identifying poka yokes gives everyone a chance to create smart, safe solutions to identified risks. In 2024, we increased our poka yoke submissions from 162 to 200 when comparing the total number of poka yokes eligible for annual recognition. Thank you to everyone who shared their safety improvement and risk reduction ideas this year – your efforts are helping others put Safety First. Always.
Questions?
For questions about poka yokes or how to implement process improvement ideas, please reach out to your local Safety Representative or William Schuster, Regional Safety, Health and Environment Manager, at Bill.Schuster@olysteel.com.
Safety First. Always. And, it starts with me.
