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Article
Publication date: 30 March 2021

Mansik Hur, Seong-Jong Joo and Jaeyoung Cho

The purpose of this study is to provide the benchmarking guideline to improve managing maintenance man-hour in producing sorties of fighter jet aircraft in the Korean Air Force by…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide the benchmarking guideline to improve managing maintenance man-hour in producing sorties of fighter jet aircraft in the Korean Air Force by measuring relative efficiency of aircraft in a fleet.

Design/methodology/approach

Using actual operational data from 2014 to 2018, this paper measures the relative efficiencies of aircraft by data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. To analyze the efficiencies across different operational units and among aircraft with different attributes, non-parametric statistical techniques and tobit regression are employed.

Findings

The overall management of maintenance man-hour turns out to be 63.2% efficient compared to the best practice. Operational unit possessing aircraft with different configurations shows the poorest performance implying efficiency depends on the complexity of job processes. Identification of aircraft on the best-practice frontier indicates the efficiency is closely related with the reliability of components and the age of aircraft.

Practical implications

Performance of aircraft maintenance has a tremendous impact on military readiness, utilization of work force, and the quality and safety of flight operations. This study confirmed there exists plenty of room for performance enhancement and presents a reference to find a balance in the performances of maintenance practices across different installations as well as among different types of aircraft.

Originality/value

Application of DEA to engineering systems has been limited in literature, especially in military operations. Thus, this study presents meaningful guidelines to which fleet manager can refer to when establishing strategic maintenance plans to balance the utilization of manpower.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 39 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 October 2015

A. Shanmugam and T. Paul Robert

The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on human factors in aircraft maintenance and to analyze and synthesize the findings in the literature on human factors…

3942

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on human factors in aircraft maintenance and to analyze and synthesize the findings in the literature on human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

The review adopts a threefold approach: searching and collecting the scientific literature; sorting them on the basis of relevance and applications; and review of the scientific evidences. Broad areas of aircraft maintenance regulations are identified and each area was explored to study the level of scientific growth and publications. Notable theories, models and concepts are being summarized.

Findings

Application of human factor principles in aviation spread beyond the technical arena of man-machine interface. The discipline has created a great impact on aircraft design, operations and maintenance. Its applications have percolated into design of aircraft maintenance facilities, task cards and equipment. Human factor concepts are being used for maintenance resource management. The principles are applied to shape the safety behavior and culture in aviation maintenance workplace. Nevertheless, the review unfolds immense potential for future research.

Research limitations/implications

Research outcomes of non-aviation studies are also reviewed and consolidated to extend the applications to the aviation industry.

Practical implications

This review would be a consolidated source of information confining to the physical aspect of human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance. It is intended to serve as a quick reference guide to the researchers and maintenance practitioners.

Social implications

It brought out the benefits of adopting the principles of human factor engineering in aircraft maintenance. Application of human factor philosophy ensures enhanced safety in air transport, personal safety and well-being of maintenance personnel.

Originality/value

This is a unique review based on aircraft maintenance regulations that are baseline performance standards made mandatory by regulatory authorities. Therefore, the review has been considered to be made on aircraft maintenance regulatory requirements that surpass corporate or competitive strategies in aviation maintenance organization.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 21 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 November 2020

Thomas O'Neal, Hokey Min, Daniel Cherobini and Seong-Jong Joo

The authors employed the three different versions (Charnes–Cooper–Rhodes, Banker–Charnes–Cooper and slack-based measure of efficiency) of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to…

Abstract

Purpose

The authors employed the three different versions (Charnes–Cooper–Rhodes, Banker–Charnes–Cooper and slack-based measure of efficiency) of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the comparative efficiency/inefficiency of aircraft maintenance performance during the previous 41 months in United States Air Force (USAF). As a complimentary tool, the authors also adopted Tobit regression analysis to identify factors affecting efficiencies and inefficiencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to measure the relative efficiency of maintenance performances for a type of USAF aircraft in an effort to enhance aviation safety and combat readiness.

Findings

Through this study, the authors have two noteworthy findings. These are (1) an increased number of “cannibalization” (extracting necessary parts from the existing aircraft) practices tended to reduce maintenance efficiency; (2) The number of mission-capable aircraft turned out to be the most important factor for maintenance performance efficiency.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first studies on aircraft maintenance that considered popular but neglected cannibalization practices as a new variable for assessing the maintenance efficiency. In addition, this paper is one of the few studies that performed a post-ad hoc analysis as a follow-up to DEA analysis.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 38 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2023

Mohammed Timjerdine

This research aims to review relevant documentation on performance measurement in aircraft maintenance. The approaches and models used to measure and manage aircraft maintenance

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to review relevant documentation on performance measurement in aircraft maintenance. The approaches and models used to measure and manage aircraft maintenance performance in civilian and military contexts are classified and examined during this process. Based on the results of this study, future directions and research topics are identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The review included an initial database of 200 publications published over the past 20 years. Published work included contributions from institutions, companies, and scholars.

Findings

The present literature review showed the distribution of themes related to measuring and improving of aviation maintenance performance. These areas and themes cover the perspectives of the customer, technicians and managers and range from the effective management of material resources, the contribution of mathematical models and the help of information systems, and finally, the involvement of the human factor. Thus, given this documentary base, a conceptual framework, which retraces the different operational and organizational facets of the evolution of maintenance performance management, is presented.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the results obtained, the measurement of performance in aeronautical maintenance requires more research and the development of theoretical models.

Practical implications

Findings from this investigation have relevant implications for aircraft maintenance. In this context, it is essential to understand the different approaches to “performance measurement” and management used in airlines and maintenance centers.

Originality/value

Given the competitiveness of the aviation sector, it is important to understand the types and scope of different approaches and models used to manage and measure aeronautical maintenance performance in civilian and military operational contexts.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 29 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 February 2022

Tarik Gunes, Ugur Turhan and Birsen Yörük Açıkel

This study aims to bring a new approach to the existing structure of Cessna 172 type Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM), operational safety, suitability for maintenance operations…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to bring a new approach to the existing structure of Cessna 172 type Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM), operational safety, suitability for maintenance operations and human factors. The purpose of this study is to maintain maintenance operations more safely and effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tried to develop an approach by using focus group interview and individual interview techniques. At all stages of the study, interviews were made and support was received from the maintenance technicians, technical instructors and students from the aviation industry stakeholders.

Findings

According to the answers given by the participants, the new approach could have a positive effect on operational safety (98.71%), could have a positive effect on human performance (95.72%) it is understandable (93.16%), it is proper for maintenance operations (88.74%) with high potential to convert into practice (85.92%) and a high potential for future applications (97.06%).

Practical implications

It can be used in aviation organizations that operate AMM Cessna 172 type aircraft, created with the new approach, in maintenance aircraft maintenance enterprises and maintenance training institutions. Thanks to this approach, aircraft maintenance technicians will be able to perform safely and more effective maintenance activities.

Originality/value

Contrary to the technologies used by organizations that host wide-body aircraft in their fleets, it requires less cost and less workload to create, use and update. Low-cost airline organizations and maintenance training institutions will also be able to achieve this approach.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 94 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 October 2018

Ebru Yazgan and Ayşe Kucuk Yilmaz

Airline business management is set on airworthy strategy. Airline sustainability depends upon corporate-based airworthy strategy as airworthiness is the base to any airline…

Abstract

Purpose

Airline business management is set on airworthy strategy. Airline sustainability depends upon corporate-based airworthy strategy as airworthiness is the base to any airline business management and strategy. An airline can ensize its corporate sustainability if it has airworthiness strategy and risk management. The main condition to survive in the airline business is to maintain airworthiness with the fleet, maintenance and corporate-risk management. Aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) has a dual role in aircraft maintenance system as the source of failure in maintenance process via his volatility and unmanageable qualifications and secondly source of manager of maintain airworthiness of the aircrafts in airline. Situational awareness of managers about both limitations and qualifications of human factors is vital determinant to the decision-making process in aviation. Although continuously improving in related literature, one of the biggest weaknesses of the current methods of AMT error or performance is that the ability to model the reciprocal effects of the factors affecting the fault is limited. For this reason, this study aims to develop an analytic network process (ANP) model that takes into account the effects of mutual dependences among factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, with the help of experts and extensive literature, 67 factors that contributed to AMT error are identified and grouped. Then, the factors identified as eligible criteria and sub-criteria that contributed to the AMT errors are determined. In this study, the weights of identified criteria that have influence on AMT error try to determine by using ANP method. ANP is the common method to solve multi-criteria decision-making problems and is used to calculate priorities of factors. Criteria determined in this study are classified into three main clusters: “individual-related criteria”, “working environment-related criteria” and “organisational-related criteria”. These main clusters include 15 sub criteria such as communication, documentation (quality/updating/availability) and peer pressure.

Findings

The result of this study shows that time pressure, organisational culture, safety culture and supervision are the most important criteria that contributed to AMT error. Their weights are 0.207, 0.172, 0.102 and 0.094, respectively.

Originality/value

There are many difficulties and limitations in measuring the factors that have an influence on AMT errors. For this reason, the weights of criteria and sub-criteria necessary are determined using ANP, and in this manner, it is possible to make better decisions in this process as ANP is a multi-criteria decision-making technique that considers qualitative factors in decision-making problems. The factors’ taxonomy determined as a result of the expert opinions and the extensive literature and the ANP model developed taking into account the dependencies between the factors will contribute to the literature.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 91 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1996

Mohamed Ali Mirghani

Provides a description and analysis of the Saudi Arabian Airlines’ (SAUDIA) existing budgetary and costing systems from the perspective of aircraft maintenance as a core business…

2757

Abstract

Provides a description and analysis of the Saudi Arabian Airlines’ (SAUDIA) existing budgetary and costing systems from the perspective of aircraft maintenance as a core business activity. Views aircraft maintenance as an integral component of the airlines’ value chain. Highlights deficiencies of the existing systems and makes prescriptions so that aircraft maintenance will contribute positively to SAUDIA’s mission statement. Prescriptions for improving aircraftmaintenance budgetary and costing systems cannot be made without providing precriptions for improving the budgetary and costing systems for the overall organization.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 2 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 October 2018

Ebru Yazgan

Contemporary management and strategy mean optimization of ingredient factors such as human factors, systems, operations and equipment. With system approach in management and…

Abstract

Purpose

Contemporary management and strategy mean optimization of ingredient factors such as human factors, systems, operations and equipment. With system approach in management and strategy, human risk factor as input has considerable potential to change results as airworthiness in aviation management. The managers of aviation business also optimize their functions to act safe while making contribution to development in triple of sustainability as economic development and its sustainability; social development and its sustainability; and environmental development and its sustainability. Corporate sustainability can be accomplished via supporting workforce which is the human risk factor. To support (empowerment) workforce, researchers should identify human risk or error factors which are important to this research. The purpose of this study is to suggest holistic framework for working environment system of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) within two respects such as human performance (ergonomics) and corporate performance (sustainability). The secondary purpose of this system is to develop human risk taxonomy by determining the factors affecting both human and work by taking ergonomic aspects in aviation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a taxonomy of human risk factors for AMTs is developed. These human factors divided into groups and subfactors are obtained from an extensive literature review and experts’ opinions in the field of human performance in aviation. Taxonomy developed will be useful to both sharing and using corporate sources in sustainable way.

Findings

Human risk factors can be considered or accepted as factors that cause human error. This may result in the optimum way to managing human risk factor via minimizing human-based error. Personality, hazardous attitudes, individual characteristics, physical/psychological condition of AMTs and corporate social responsibility factors are human-related risk variables in this study. The risks and error can be reduced by recognizing these factors and revealing their relation to ergonomic design.

Originality/value

The results of this study are intended to constitute a guide for managers to manage risk factors and to take corrective and preventive actions for their maintenance operations. It is believed that this study is highly important for the aviation sector in terms of raising awareness or providing awareness for similar practices. As taxonomy of the risk factors contributes to the managing human error, corrective actions related to these factors must be taken by managers.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 90 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 1999

Hesham K. Alfares

This paper describes an actual aircraft maintenance labor scheduling study. The study’s objective is to determine the optimum maintenance workforce schedule to satisfy growing…

2843

Abstract

This paper describes an actual aircraft maintenance labor scheduling study. The study’s objective is to determine the optimum maintenance workforce schedule to satisfy growing labor requirements with minimum cost. The main recommendation of the study is to switch from a five‐day to a seven‐day workweek for aircraft maintenance workers. A new integer programming formulation, used to obtain an optimum seven‐day work schedule with no increase in workforce size, is presented. In comparison to the existing five‐day schedule, switching to a seven‐day workweek is expected to produce savings of about 13 per cent, or $100,000 annually.

Details

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, vol. 5 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2511

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1972

PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS was the first airline to receive Boeing 747 aircraft, and is the largest user with a fleet of 30 and two more on order. As the airline with the first…

Abstract

PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS was the first airline to receive Boeing 747 aircraft, and is the largest user with a fleet of 30 and two more on order. As the airline with the first and most 747s, Pan Am was faced with more 747 maintenance problems sooner, and to a larger degree, than most other carriers.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 44 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

1 – 10 of over 5000