Increasing mission effectiveness 1 stat at a time

Published Oct. 10, 2008
By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Southwest Asia -- Each click of the mouse is a shovel-full of words in an immense crater of data. His eyes sift through endless text of technical jargon looking for any inconsistency. Then, like the North Star, the trending statistics guide him to the answer. "I think I found a solution to the problem," says the analyst.

The 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Operations Squadron Maintenance Analysis team here measures aircraft performance, determines aircraft health and looks for ways to improve aircraft availability, efficiency and effectiveness through trend analysis.

"The mission of the (maintenance analysis team) is to provide timely, accurate and actionable information to maintenance leaders to maximize the safety, reliability and effectiveness of our aircraft," said Maj. Anthony Nance, 379 EMOS commander. "This is our guide, and this team lives up to that every day by helping to increase aircraft availability."

Since September, the maintenance analysis team's recommendations have helped improve processes and establish preventive maintenance procedures saving the Air Force several million dollars.

"It really goes to show how a typical office person can contribute to the (overall) mission," he said. "We're very proud of the part we play in the Global War on Terrror."

The five-member team scours through more than 22,000 maintenance transactions per month with each analyst specializing on a different airframe.

"Everything that's done on an aircraft is logged into the maintenance information system," said Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Sprock, 379 EMOS superintendent and first sergeant. "We check (the documents in the system) for accuracy and trending data so we can be proactive and not reactive. If we start seeing a particular negative trend we can alert the flight line maintainers of the root causes before it becomes a major problem for the wing."

By using a 12-step analysis process to compile the data, the maintenance analysts use the study to pinpoint areas of concern for the aircraft. From there, the analysts specializing in the particular aircraft will make recommendations to the aircraft maintenance unit's commander. Successful studies improve aircraft availability by establishing more efficient maintenance and operations procedures.

"You need your aircraft available," said Sergeant Sprock, deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. "You need to be able to meet any commitment thrown your way.

"If we're not identifying (the data) to improve aircraft and cut their down time, then we're hindering our capabilities," said the Central City, Penn., native. "If we lose a KC-135 sortie that means we lose three or four fighter sorties because (the tanker) is not there to gas them. If we lose a C-130 sortie, troops and supplies aren't getting down range. If we lose (an ISR) sortie we're losing vital surveillance to hone in where the B-1s need to go to attack the enemy."

Currently, the maintenance analysis team performs 16 to 20 studies per month.

"Performing studies is vital," he said. "The more we can find and come up with a solution for, the less time the aircraft are down. If it's a process change that can be implemented, that's less work the maintainers have to do."

The result of one study showed an abnormal number of over-temperature conditions on the outside engines of a KC-135 Stratotanker. Due to the findings, key adjustments were made to maintenance and take-off procedures.

"There was an instant 57 percent reduction in engine over temperatures, which resulted in increased air refueling capabilities," Sergeant Sprock said.

Another analysis study also determined the root cause of excess brake replacements on B-1B Lancers. The discovery led to changes in the take-off and landing procedures resulting in a 65 percent decrease in brake replacements saving the Air Force more than $1 million in parts.

Even though looking through thousands of documents day in and day out may seem like a grueling and trivial task, just one document can make a difference.

"Just like every person is a key player in getting the mission done, every document helps tell the overall story of what's going on in the maintenance arena," Sergeant Sprock said. "It's important to look at every document to get the full picture, because without one document you can be missing a very important piece of what's happening. It can be the difference of the aircraft flying or crashing."