MANAGEMENT REVIEW IMPROVES PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS

Describes how the San Diego Department of Public Works used a management review of its road maintenance and field engineering units to save $2.6 million up front and $2.3 million each year thereafter, an improvement of 7 percent. Setting benchmarks from comparable agencies, establishing a baseline database to more efficiently allocate tasks and equipment, disposing of excess real estate and machinery, standardizing scheduling and automating more administrative tasks were among the actions taken.