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Show 0 Hilluip Tillies MarcM 27. 2003 Commentary Having a plan, giving it all are effective ingredients Gene L. into four squadrons of Air Force Reserve as part of our software capabilities upgrades, improved their battlefield awareness, enhanced communications, and provided for delivery of smart munitions. The report back from the warfighter is that the Block 30 has performed superbly in recent theaters, including Operation Enduring Freedom. These vintage fighters are now being called the "most advanced and in the Air Force inventory and lethal Air Combat Command's "greatest current Hathenbruck s, Director of Maintenance 9 Last July, Ogden was the first air logistics center within Force Materiel Command to stand up the new Air Force Maintenance Directorate structure, as part of a transformation throughout AFMC. Our goal was to ensure sustained world-clas- s depot maintenance to meet the challenges of an expeditionary, rapid Air Force. Our roadmap was reaction, contingency-basesuccinctly laid out for us by Gen. Lester L. Lyles, AFMC commander: "We must do all we can to achieve our goal of making sure warfighter support is the best it can possibly be." I was fortunate to be selected as the director of the nev Maintenance Directorate and bring together approximately 7,000 talented and dedicated professionals from parts of the former Aircraft, Commodities, Electronics, Logistics Management, Technology and Industrial Support Directorates, and the ICBM System Program Office. On Oct. 1, 2002, 77 days from our initial operating capabilities date, the Maintenance Directorate reached a major accomplishment. In the capability first quarter of FY 2003, our MA people implemented nearly 30 process improvement programs across the directorate; all contributing to improved support at a lower cost to the warfighter. By centralizing MA personnel and manpower control and implementing a 6 percent reduction, we generated $24 million in annual savings to the Depot Maintenance Activity Group. In that same vein, our net operating results exceeded the goal of $1.75 million by $3.3 million for a total profit of $5.05 million. This is good news for our customers as we reduced our total production rate by $4.26 per hour and increased the yield per person by 52 hours. Let me highlight just a few of the improvements we have seen. During the past year, the Electronics Division brought in nearly $250 million in revenue while reducing its expenses by 15 percent. The division also managed to improve warfighter supportability by reducing the MICAPs and High Priority Backorders by 61 percent and 12 percent respectively. Quality Deficiency Report backlog was reduced by 69 percent. Numerous process improvement initiatives are underway. A LEAN initiative completed in the airborne generator shop is projecting a 39 percent decrease in flow days, allowing the shop to return assets to users faster, cheaper and better. In our Aircraft Division, we produced 20 aircraft in a period; almost triple the normal production rate of seven aircraft per month. The flow days for the Embedded Global Positioning System-Inertia- l Navigation Sysfrom 50 tem modification were reduced by 33 percent 35 of an days. days to average Air d al Hill flip Viewpoint success." Brig. Gen. Thomas Dyches, special assistant to the commander. Air Force Reserve Command, states, "The data link, in and of itself, is the single most important modifi- a cation in the fighter I've seen my 32 years in the business." Our Commodities Division produced I'm very proud of all 22 percent more exchangeables than budgeted, while implementing LEAN efforts throughout their processes. The new brake cell has reduced flow times from 45 days to five days, cutting work in process from 1,100 units to less than 30. This has doubled the monthly production of brake assemblies, one of the most critically surged items during any conflict. They have reached out to industry to develop critical partnerships director. with both Goodrich and Honeywell, stabilizing our industrial base and support capability to the warfighter. It sounds like having a plan and giving it all you can from the start are definitely Gene Hathenbruck effective ingredients for "making sure warfighter support is the best it can pos- Gene Hathenbruck """ sibly be." It is what the men and women of Hill's what they Our Missile Maintenance Division ended the year Maintenance Directorate are dedicated to with all management indicators at or above budget and are all about each and every day they come to work. What an opportunity it has been. I cannot begin to tell produced 40,000 more hours than projected, and exceeded their projected net operating result by $1.6 million. After you how exciting it has been, seeing the culture change organization spin up. What more process improvement implementation in their ICBM Flight and watching a Control Unit Shop, support drastically improved from could you ask for? As I move to my new assignment as the director of Logis59 percent in July to 99.8 percent in December; producand Control tics Management, I'm very proud of all the MA employtion increased 533 percent per month; Flight full a now is month had been ees for their accomplishments and for the opportunity days late, delivery, that to serve as their director. ahead of schedule. I want to tell them all, "You have a great attitude and Another example would be the $2.3 billion Common Conwork our we Plan ethic that is getting us and the Air Force where we by championed figuration Implementation Software Development Division. This integration want to be. Thanks for giving your best effort. I know required "leap ahead" technology into 6 Block 30s sup- you'll keep giving a 110 percent, because 'MA,' y.ou are porting the war on terrorism. The capabilities integrated the best of the best!" the MA employees for their accomplishments and for the opportunity to serve as their top-notc- 2-- h 3 F-1- Street Views 'What message would you send to m.,. F-1- 6 .. ' Trniiw-wwmnn- iiB nn unlffl Senior Airman Kenneth Plummer -- sW Squadron "I hope everyone comes back all right. That is about all you can say" irfiTTl IMn Capt. Sean Cross Crew chief 54th Weather Crew chief 403rd Maintenance ."" Reconnaissance Squadron Two words: Be careful. That's about all you can tell them. " ' !- 'jnl! I irn Edward Moncayo Machinist Maintenance Directorate Machine Shop "I would tell them that I support them in the sense that I wish them no harm and they are successful in their mission." 1 mi -" troops in Iraq?' U.S. ijm.wi ii gU-J- 1, Hi hrl Staff Sgt. Jennifer Miller ...... 11 Rilv.' Chestana . hi May Family member "I would want all of them to know that I want them to come home safe." Budget analyst 388th Fighter Wing "I would tell them to stay strong. Hopefully you will be home soon. Keep a good attitude to help with morale and remember that we are supporting you back home." James May Family member "I would tell them to be strong. Their family loves and supports them and Godspeed." Action Line Medical appointments 1 5 minutes starting at 7:30 a.m.? understand your confusion regarding the military medical appointment system. The "Open Access" appointing system's goal is to meet the needs of patients by doing "today's work today." Though it sounds intuitive, this is a relatively new concept in clinic scheduling and has been slowly developing support and acceptance in the national medical community. Patients should never be told to call back later (our staff is taught otherwise) and we need to every Why can't the clinic schedule appointments for other Ifthan the same day? Calling every morning at 7:30 a.m. to schedule an appointment Is Inconvenient. It would be a lot easier to schedule an appointment at least a day or two ahead so I can fit my work schedule around it. Does the schedule change that much from day to day? Isn't It A I "Air Force people building the world's most respected MJErnun Quality Systems for America's Air Force Hilltop Times Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a privale firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AIH. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Air and Space Force Global Power and Reach for America. U.S. military services. 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TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT, CALL copyI know whenever this occurs. The Hill Clinic is developing xlicies to ensure additional apixmitments fire available for follow-up- s and special circumstances. If you think your circumstances fit this description, make our staff aware of it. The "Open Access" system is being used in several civilian clinics with great success, and we are excited the Hill Clinic has been the first and most successful military facility to try it. For more questions or concerns contact the Group Practice Manager at Ext 625-430- 0 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Ma). Gen. Scott Bergren Shawn Mecham Ma). Bill Orndorfl Commander, Director, Public Affairs Karl Tllton Gary Boyle, Beth Young, 2nd LL Caroline Wellman, Airman 1st Class Mlcah Garbarlno Deadlines: OO-AL- C Editor Assistant Editor Staff writers Editorial and "Around the Hill" Items, 3 p.m. Friday, sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, classified ads, 2 p.m. Tuesday, week ot publication. 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