An operator’s performance and profitability are closely linked to maintaining its fleet economically, appropriately, and in compliance with regulations. But managers of airline and railroad technical operations often face dynamic, rapidly shifting demands as they seek to ensure the availability, airworthiness and dispatch reliability of the asset fleet. These constantly shifting priorities mean that overall fleet maintenance can slip in priority, not always aligning with corporate performance and hurting profitability.
CAVOK augments the administration of air carrier’s Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) function: initial program development, enterprise resource planning system support, program assessment, check package optimization, auditing gap analysis, implementation bridging, and work instruction management. We have adapted these proven aviation philosophies to rail assets to enable data analysis-based adjustments to the maintenance programs for locomotives and other assets that optimize their availability.
The Situation
Because of merger activities, the maintenance programs organization of a US-based international airline did not incorporate multiple Maintenance Review Board Report revisions into its B737NG maintenance schedule.
The air carrier’s maintenance programs and reliability staffers were keenly aware that, in some instances, the accomplishment intervals for recurring tasks was 50 percent less than for most competitors.
Resource constraints prevented the air carrier’s own maintenance programs and reliability groups from pursuing an optimized, financially beneficial maintenance program evolution initiative.
The discrepancy data not conforming to the air carrier’s maintenance programs evolution policies amounted to over 210,000 lines.
Approach
Employed CAVOK’s suite of applications (including Gap Analysis and Maintenance Program Assessment) to develop recommendations and substantiation for incorporating current Maintenance Review Board Report task intervals and, with some tasks, exceeded board-established intervals.
Developed and secured stakeholder buy-in for a moderately amended check packaging model.
Sought approval for escalating the air carrier’s line checks, immediately followed by seeking approval for escalated base checks.
Worked closely with affected stakeholder groups within the air carrier and offered full transparency on its goals and methodology for the regulatory authority.
Results
The air carrier’s local regulatory authority approved the line and base check evolution substantiation proposals.
To efficiently manage the immense volume of discrepancy data, CAVOK designed, initiated, and implemented machine-learning protocols to “move the timeline to the left.”
CAVOK quickly designed an alternative line-check packaging concept that the air carrier approved and that led to a significant reduction in departure delays.
CAVOK developed a maintenance program bridging methodology that allowed the air carrier to aggressively implement its new line-check packaging arrays.
Bottom Line
The air carrier’s local regulatory authority approved the line and base check evolution substantiation proposals.
To efficiently manage the immense volume of discrepancy data, CAVOK designed, initiated, and implemented machine-learning protocols to “move the timeline to the left.”
CAVOK quickly designed an alternative line-check packaging concept that the air carrier approved and that led to a significant reduction in departure delays.
CAVOK developed a maintenance program bridging methodology that allowed the air carrier to aggressively implement its new line-check packaging arrays.
A & C CHECK INVERVALS INCREASED: |
50% |
MAN HOURS REDUCTION: |
30% |
CHECK SPAN REDUCTION: |
25% |
