Excerpt from the IBM About Your Company Employee Handbook:
"Another communication channel is the IBM Suggestion Plan, with cash awards for ideas that save the company money. Started in 1928, this plan has paid out millions of dollars in suggestion awards to eligible IBMers. It provides employees a way to submit ideas for improving the company and contributing to IBM's progress. It provides IBM a way to reward eligible employees for suggestions that are adopted for implementation.
With the Suggestion Plan, you can help IBM save time, material or money... reduce or avoid costs... simplify methods or procedures... improve safety, health, security or external customer service."