Lean Strategies for Scheduled Maintenance Operations

As the E-6B airframe ages, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the minimum requirements for fleet ready for tasking (RFT) aircraft assets. The research conducted in this project has the primary focus of finding solutions to this problem that will ultimately increase the number of RFT aircraft in the E-6B community. The E-6B operates in support of United States Strategic Command, providing a survivable airborne nuclear communication platform in support of nuclear deterrence. This paper evaluates lean strategies in relation to the scheduled maintenance program of the E-6B and details the results of a manpower study and potential manpower solution utilising lean principles with relation to manpower.