Israel Electric Corporation Empowers Field Workers to Drive Innovation
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Herzl Friedman reports that the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) fosters innovation by empowering its field employees to develop technological solutions. Two key examples include a robot for live electrical grid work and a drone system for installing warning balls on power lines. The IEC's management actively supports these initiatives, with a recent competition yielding 62 proposals from field workers. The company is also establishing innovation hubs to test and implement new technologies for future energy challenges.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel Electric Corporation field workers are driving innovation with practical solutions like a live-grid robot.
- A drone system for installing warning balls on power lines was developed from employee suggestions.
- Employees involved in proposing ideas also participate in their development and implementation.
- The IEC's management fully supports innovation initiatives, including competitions and idea pathways.
- New innovation centers are being established to test and refine technologies for future energy needs.
Herzl Friedman, writing for the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), highlights how innovation within the company originates not from labs or executive suites, but from the practical experience of its field employees. These workers, intimately familiar with daily challenges and system vulnerabilities, are identified as a primary source of technological solutions.
Friedman cites two key examples of this bottom-up innovation. The first is a robot designed to perform tasks on live electrical grids. Developed by a team of employees concerned about safety risks, the robot, equipped with arms, sensors, and cameras, can execute six different operations without interrupting power supply. The operator remains safely on the ground, and the system is being further enhanced with AI capabilities.
The second example involves a drone system for installing warning balls on high-voltage power lines, which are crucial for aircraft visibility. Previously, this task required helicopters, large lifting platforms, and significant logistical and safety planning. The new drone-based system, conceived by field workers, allows for autonomous installation and removal of these balls, with potential commercial applications being explored.
The article emphasizes that the employees who propose these ideas are actively involved in their development, contributing their expertise throughout the process. Friedman stresses the IEC's commitment to fostering this innovation, despite its century-old, complex structure. This involves establishing clear pathways for idea submission, professional and economic evaluation, resource allocation, and dedicated support for development.
Friedman notes that the IEC's management, from the chairman and CEO downwards, fully backs this innovation drive. A recent company innovation competition saw 62 project proposals emerge from field operations, with one selected for the CEO's award. The IEC is also investing in future energy challenges, exploring technologies like fiber optic monitoring and sensors, and establishing innovation centers and smart city projects in Hadera, Nesher, and Be'er Sheva to test and refine new ideas in controlled environments before widespread implementation. Ultimately, the goal is to improve customer service, enhance grid reliability and safety, and meet future energy demands, with the company's people seen as its greatest asset.