C/KC-135 Team Spirit

The C/KC-135 is extensively overhauled every five years as part of its PDM (Programmed Depot Maintenance) cycle.  Once overhauled the aircraft is returned to its squadron, where personnel familiar with the original aircraft review the overhaul and ensures its meets full compliance.  The QDR (Quality Deficiency Reports) are compiled which often requires considerable time to open panels and bays, and the depot either corrects any issues or explains why the repair/upgrade was not completed.  The QDR process often took 30-45 days to complete during which time the aircraft could not be placed back into service.  The team spirit program was enacted to enable the crew to view the aircraft before its final assembly while still at depot.  The crew verified repairs/upgrades without having to take the time to remove panels, etc.

Because many crews did not understand the PDM scope, the Process Guide^TM (PG^TM)  was utilzed.   PG^TM enabled the crew to follow the PDM scope utilizing visual work cards and electronically document any findings.  The original paper based Team Spirit took eight working days.  Utilizing PG^TM and its visual work cards flow, the Team Spirit was reduced to just 2.5 days.  QDR's were also reduced 80% and aircraft induction days decreased from an average of 37.5 days to 7 days.  This greatly increased AA (Aircraft Availability).

 

C/KC- 135 Inspection Dock

The PDM (Programmed Depot Maintenance) cycle for the C/KC-135 is an extensive overhaul process where set repairs/upgrades are performed on every aircraft.  Because of age and usage, there are often addition repairs required to ensure the aircraft's full operational status.  The vast majority of these inspections are performed within the IDock (Inspection Dock) once the aircraft has been disassembled and stripped to provide access to areas and enabling structural discrepancies analysis not hidden by paint.

The IDock inspection is very extensive and requires a high level working knowledge of the aircraft.  Because of attrition (retirements and transfers), the Process Guide^TM (PG^TM) was utilized to assist less experienced personnel to perform the inspection without impacting quality.  Originally many of the IDock personnel had over 20 years experience with the system.  The newer personnel often had less than 5 years experience.  Utilizing PG^TM the new personnel were able to perform the inspections without impacting quality.  The digital discrepancies also reduced inspection times 25% since no redundant data entry was required.  This enabled IDock flow time to be decreased by 3 days per aircraft while improving quality and virtually eliminating downstream findings that impacted delivery dates.  These results were independently verified through CTMA (Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities).

 

K/KC-135 Functional Check Flights

As part of the PDM (Programmed Depot Maintenance) cycle, every aircraft is required to perform a flight test where systems are verified 100% operational.  The FCF (Functional Check Flight) tests are performed first on the ground, and if passed, during flight.  The program was reimbursed for 1.6 test flights (costly thousands in fuel and maintenance time).  While it was expected some would fail, the program was expected to have a high first pass success rate.  Because of the age and wide usage for the aircraft, the original FCF often failed first pass.

The Process Guide^TM (PG^TM) was utilized to compile a detailed set of both ground checks and pre-flight checks to minimize in-flight findings (some things can only be checked in the air).   PG^TM visual work cards and head knowledge ensured regardless of the personnel's experience, the aircraft was properly inspected and maintenance performed before flight.  Originally the FCF first pass was only 8%.  Upon implementation of PG^TM first pass success increased to 52% of aircraft and continues to improve as additional data and findings are incorporated.

 

Engines Masking and Plating

Air Force engines require overhaul based on hours and specific use parameters.  This requires an extensive disassembly and rebuild.  Because many of the parts cannot be economically purchased or no longer even exist, many of the items are refurbished.  The refurbishment takes many forms, but the masking and plating processes are the most complex requiring detailed knowledge of both masking and plating processes.  If the parts are improperly masked and plated, it can result in the part being scrapped (often costing many thousands of dollars), or the part to be re-processed which leads to long lead-times impacting delivery dates.

Because of usage and the long service cycle for many of the engines, many of the personnel were unfamiliar with proper masking and plating processes for specific parts resulting in large scrape costs and long repair lead times due to the part being reworked numerous times.  The Process Guide^TM (PG^TM) visual work card technology was implemented for many of the more difficult parts or less familiar parts that required masking.  The visual guide included direct links to required Technical Orders (T.O.'s) enabling technicians to perform the masking faster and with virtually no mistakes.  This reduced the scrape rate almost 90% and reduced repair lead-time 48%.  It also reduced new employee training 72%.

 

Engines Test Cell

As part of the engine overhaul process, every engine is placed within a test cell to ensure it is properly functioning.  This requires a four hour setup, four hour run cycle, and a four hour tear down.  If the engine does not properly function and removed, the entire twelve hour cycle must be repeated.  This obviously serves as a tremendous bottleneck when problems occur.  Like many DOD areas test cell has suffered high attrition rates due to retirements.

The Process Guide^TM (PG^TM) was utilized to document discrepancies and to capture their corrective actions.  As data was captured lesser experienced personnel could log a discrepancy into PG^TM, and utilize the prognostic capabilities of the technology to identify the most common causes for the error code or failure.  Many of these issues could be repaired while still within test cell eliminating the long tear down, and recycle of the engine.  Before implementation the F-101 engine line was processing eight engines a month.  Upon implementation the number has climbed to 17/month and continues to grow as additional data is captured and continuous improvements are made to the process.  These results were independently verified through CTMA (Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities).

 

B-1/B MOB Inspections

The MOB's (Mobile Operating Bases) and FOB's (Forward Operating Bases) are the operational centers for the aircraft.  These locations perform the training flights and often deploy to serve the operational roles of the aircraft.  Without sacrificing safety the goals of these centers are AA (Aircraft Availability) focused ensuring aircraft are ready to complete their mission needs.  The SPO (System Program Offices) supports these mission goals by providing engineering support.  The MOB's and SPO have the same ultimate goal which is to ensure high AA rates; however, the requirements for each to support that goal greatly vary.

The MOB's work extremely hard to do whatever it takes to safely fly the aircraft.  This often results in quick turn-around repairs and shuffling of parts when needed.  While all procedures are followed, the data captured is often non-standard and lacks sufficient detail to enable the SPO to utilize it for future repairs, or fleet wide trend analysis.  The result is the fleet is often re-active to issues instead of pro-actively managing issues leading to lower long term AA rates.  The challenge is how to capture the data without burdening maintenance personnel.

The SPO utilized the Process Guide^TM (PG^TM) to electronically capture the discrepancies (100% standardization).  Once the personnel were comfortable with the technology, the inspection/repair times actually decreased and the SPO received sufficient data to enable more pro-active analysis.  To date the MOB's are utilizing PG^TM within the HSC (Home Station Checks) with ISO (Isochronal) being setup for deployment within the next year.  While the HSC is not a complicated inspection, attrition is a significant concern so proper management is a requirement.  The longer term impacts of accurate, complete data are far reaching.