Time is the most critical factor in executing the mission at the Corpus Christi Army Depot. A product is not complete until it is on its way back to the Soldier on the other end waiting for it.
Depot artisans often spend time ordering and gathering 100% replaceable parts for a helicopter engine, which takes time away from other value-added activities within the overhaul process that could get that engine on its way.
CCAD's T700 engine team was well-acquainted with the lengthy downtime required to order and gather parts prior to each build.
In early 2015, General Electric and CCAD partnered in an effort to reduce the time spent ordering and gathering parts. Their solution was to create work station kits. Taking a project like this from plan to execution typically takes two to three years, but the GE/CCAD team accomplished it in 13 short months.
Then, personnel from the Supply Chain Management, Engine and Power Train Production, the Master Data Management Division and GE worked together to complete 14 unique Bills of Material, a list of parts necessary to overhaul an engine.
Besides providing configuration control to the depot maintenance work requirements, the kits will reduce manpower and increase efficiency in obtaining highly consumed, low cost and 100% DMWR mandatory parts.
The use of kits also allows greater production control oversight and provide artisans a better way to use their time: making engines serviceable again. More time spent on the actual engine means the asset returns to the unit faster.
Down the road, these efficiencies will increase stability and predictability of cost and consumption while reducing the likelihood of a fluctuating depot overhaul factor.
"After identifying the problem, the solution was clearly evident that we needed to kit our engine parts," said Marc Gonzalez, Director of Engine and Powertrain Production. "By eliminating thousands of transactions, the time it takes for our team to kit at the shop level is reduced, improving our overall flow."
To add the T700 engine kits to CCAD's material attachment for 2017 without impacting its fiscal year deliveries, GE waived the cost of kitting, enabling the Army to incorporate the kits into the contract to enable CCAD's continued support to defense aviators.
"Every facet of the T700 GE, CCAD and Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Command partnership was involved in this process," said Patty Seitz, GE Aviation Military System Operation Lead Customer Order and Fulfillment Specialist at CCAD. "It would not have hit the deadline without everyone moving on it quickly and efficiently."
The T700 engine kits are built by GE -- Aviation at their Lynn Manufacturing facility in Massachusetts. Over 6,800 kits will be used for FY17 resulting in a reduction of parts orders by 98%. With the initial success of the kitting process, it could be used as a best practice and leveraged to other production lines saving time and contributing directly to Army readiness.
Social Sharing