OCR Text |
Show C-1- 19 Recycling malting bucks ; arrives Page 5 1 Vol. 39 No. 45 Pr gram By Rufus Thomas HQ AFLC Public Affairs Although improving the reliability and maintainability of its systems and equipment has always been an objective of the Air Force, its commitment to such a goal was not institutionalized until September 1984. That date marked the arrival of R&M 2000 and an organized Air Force-wid- e effort to imR&M. prove One of the goals of R&M is to increase the mobility of deploying units. One way the Air Force plans to accomplish this is by decreasing the number of people and equipment needed to support its weapon systems. There are presently 487,000 enlisted personnel in d of them 162,000 are inthe Air Force; volved in aircraft maintenance. According to a Rand Corporation study commissioned by the Air Force, it now takes more than 1,000 skilled maintenance personnel to keep a single F--l 6 wing flying. loads for the In addition to people, three Avionics Intermediate Shop and other support equipment are required to support one squadron of Mailbag Page 9 1 C-1- -- Another way the Air Force plans to increase its mobility is by utilizing the Flexible Storage Con- tainer System. This system is used to preposition vehicles and equipment in forward areas where there is a likelihood of hostilities. The storage containers are being tested for long-terstorage of vehicles and equipment in Southwest Asia. Eileen Foley, project officer in the Design Branch of AFLC 's Air Force Packaging According to Brig. Gen. Edward R. Bracken, deputy chief of staff for Maintenance at Air Force Logistics Command headquarters, Wright-PattersoAFB, Ohio, the larger the support structure is, the more time it is likely to take to respond in a crisis. "Support crews are not as fast as the planes they support," he said. The Air Force is currently working on a variety of ways to ensure that, when necessary, the maxi n ; m Evaluation Agency at AFB, said the containers are actually bags made of rubber. They come in 25 sizes for use on items ranging from a small generator to a trailer, she added. Their price varies from $2,000 to $7,000. Wright-Patterso- This type of container can be used for permanent storage where there are no buildings. Its assembly and disassembly requires few people and very e time. Moreover, the container is reusable. Two additional AFLC projects expected to increase mobility are called "Harvest Eagle" and lit-ti- One of the ways the general suggests to increase mobility is to simplify the weapon systems. The extensive commitment of personnel and equipment is an outgrowth of the complicated nature of the existing systems that must be kept in working order. Once the support requirements are reduced, the number of personnel per plane will also be reduced, all of which will improve response time. 41 s. Friday, November 15, 1985 mum amount of available systems can be deployed with the maximum amount of available support equipment in the least amount of time. Increasing mobility is the goal. -- one-thir- Page 14 improve deploymnieinii' mobililfy . F-16- Santa's OGDEN, UTAH gIs SPECIAL COLLECTIONS n 40-fo- ot . The rubber bag is placed over a piece of equipment and environmentally sealed. Vehicles and equipment can be stored in this manner for five to 10 years with tonly periodic checks. Tests have demonstrated that the containers will withstand rain, sand, erosion and extreme temperatures ranging from below freezing to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. RELIABILITY AND MAINTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN (Continued on page Simple proposals make for better work environment By Lamont Shupe Directorate of Plans and Programs an Sometimes you never know how will be idea until it's tested and put into practice. Take the invention of the paper clip what would . office workers do today if someone years ago had not thought about a simple device to hold papers : together? Well, maybe that idea only comes once in a lifetime. However, some apparently simple proposals submitted in the Logistics Excellence Program at Ogden ALC are, having an effect throughout the command and even Air Force-widThe program was started at Ogden ALC in February and has generated almost 500 ideas from the center's work force. These ideas are reviewed, evaluated and implemented when the results show a better way to do our work. Revisions to regulations are being made and waivers to existing regulations are being approved. A recent review of Ogden's proposals was made , and it was found that 14 of them have been imand seven Air Force-widplemented command-widThis means that the changes suggested by Ogden personnel are now being made at many other Air Force bases. ' Two examples are: Robert Bennett of Distribution recommended that packers use the next larger size of Type I and "II pack for priority shipments when the specified size was not available. His suggestion was approved for Ogden and all Air Force Logistics Command J bases. Since then he has submitted another proposal to substitute packaging for other types of items. Richard Krebs, Quality Assurance, proposed submitting a report on the Special Air Mission fleet aircraft annually rather than semiannually. The proposal was approved and is now being implemented at all bases in the command. The application of these ideas to other installa tions is one of the expanded benefits of this program. Not only does the initiator feel good about ' his idea but it may help someone else do a better job. Remember, just because your idea may not rival the paper clip in big impact, doesn't mean it won't help; someone else may also benefit from your suggestion. For more information on the Logistics Excellence Program call Ext. 75851. far-reachi- e. e. - f ng e USAF YV& AFLCPA A 3) . are their own and are not to be considered ' an official expression of the ueparfment ot the Air Force. I he appearance ot advertisements, It is lication does not constitute an of personnel of Hill AFB of Air Force Logistics Command. published including supplements and inserts, in this or endorsement by the Department with the Departthe Air Force of products or services by MorMedia Sales, a private firm in no way connected , Cv ;X, ; ment of the Air Force. Opinions expressed by the publisher, and writers., advertised. .; an unofficial newspaper published every Friday under exclusive written agreement with the Hill AFB commander in the interest The Hill Top Times is . |