Shaw implements AFSO 21 initiatives Published Oct. 19, 2006 By Tarsha Storey 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Rapid Improvement Events were held here Oct. 10 through 13 as part of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. Two teams, consisting of various Shaw maintainers and several facilitators, gathered to discuss ways they could dispose of unnecessary redundancy in maintenance procedures. They looked at eliminating unnecessary inspection requirements and reducing the time needed to turn an F-16 for the next mission. The teams discussed various ways to improve the value stream for their processes. Chief Master Sgt. Scott Floyd, 20th Maintenance Group AFSO 21 team leader, and his team discussed the minimum 2.5 hours needed to turn an F-16 for the next sortie. Their goal would help shorten the time needed for a flying window and provide more time to prepare aircraft for the next day's flights. Chief Floyd said his team evaluated hot-pit inspection and through-flight inspection requirements as well as the procedures required immediately prior to launch to make flightline operations more efficient. It was determined there was a need to standardize procedures in all inspections, consider eliminating steps not required by technical data and retrain personnel as needed. "Decreasing the flying window provides a more reliable and safer aircraft. Organizing and preparing the flightline will improve safety and efficiency," Chief Floyd said. Senior Master Sgt. Carlton Grayer, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron AFSO 21 team leader, and his team discussed ways to reduce the current 44 to 104 minutes required for maintenance debrief of a sortie. Sgt. Grayer's team developed an action plan which could decrease that time between 34 and 48 percent (based on the current time required to complete this process). The team's plan will also increase accuracy through a proposed automated pilot debrief. Throughout the process, the teams learned to consider different insights from different areas of the maintenance field. They were also able to look at the work area and observe the process, said Maj. Mark Commenator, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Operations officer and Shaw's rapid improvement facilitator for Sgt. Grayer's team. The event was not the only important thing, said Col. Michael Vidal, 20th Maintenance Group commander and Shaw's rapid improvement facilitator for Sgt. Floyd's team, follow-up on completion of the action plan is just as important. Col. Vidal said Chief Floyd's team had an unusual progression of change in their plan. Typically, those changes are large. In this particular plan, the major steps and procedures cannot change, but a variety of small changes can streamline the process. "I feel this (Rapid Improvement Event) was a success. With this success, the participants will want to participate in other events and get their coworkers involved," Maj. Commenator said. The colonel said leadership will continue to follow up with both groups as the implementation takes place. "As the AFSO 21 changes take place around Shaw, we will continue to reap the benefits of time and energy saved -- helping us become a leaner, more lethal Air Force," said Col. Bill Hyatt, 20th Fighter Wing commander.