SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Decreasing unscheduled maintenance and reducing downtime during a MJ-1B Bomb Lift Phase II Inspection Process by at least 15 percent was the goal of the 20th Maintenance Group's Shaw Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Rapid Improvement event Nov. 27-30.

The team, led by Capt. Scott Hall, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, included people from the 20th Maintenance Group, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron and 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

At the beginning, the team outlined the MJ-1B Bomb Lift Phase II process and detailed each step from when the MJ-1B enters inspection to when it returns to the ready line, said Staff Sgt. Jimmy Huggins, 20th Maintenance Group.

This allowed the team to see the process in its current state and evaluate what actions added value to the process, what steps were required by Air Force instruction and what steps were not required to be done, said Sgt. Huggins.

It was determined that the MJ-1B, even though it composes only 6 percent of the 20th EMS Aerospace Ground Equipment fleet, consumed 25 percent of their unscheduled maintenance hours and 17 percent of their scheduled maintenance hours, Capt. Hall said.

After studying the current process, the team developed a future state and determined what tasks and equipment they would need to get there.

Staff Sgt. Todd Morris, 20th EMS, said the team determined in the future process needed the following steps:

-- Use a pre-built parts kit to eliminate looking for a needed part.
-- Eliminate unnecessary movement back and forth to get tools and various equipment by moving the tools next to the bomb lift.
-- Use in-house personnel to weld panels instead of sending them to another shop.
-- Use a combined drip pan and oil barrel unit to reduce the back and forth movement to the bomb lift.
-- Modify weight check equipment or locate it near the bomb lift to reduce back and forth movement.
-- Change the ordering process by sending the orders directly to the approving authority.

In the long term, Sgt. Morris said they would like to have a lift in each work stall and at the wash rack, and have an individual service station in their area

By implementing these changes, the team determined they could reduce non-value added time of the inspection by 19 percent, said Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Lausier, 20th EMS.

He said they also identified process inefficiencies, gained a better understanding and appreciation of the owners of the process and customers who need it and learned and applied AFSO 21 concepts.

The new process implementation started this week and will affect all members associated with the MJ-1B Bomb Lift Phase II Inspection.

"I am happy about the progress this team made. Over all, this new process will save a lot of time," Capt. Hall said.