Inventory boost cuts down repair turnaround times

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Bazar
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  A $10 million addition to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron parts inventory is allowing quicker turnaround on repairs to aircraft, vehicles and aerospace ground equipment.

"The additional inventory will increase the timeliness of repairs and reduce the number of multimillion dollar aircraft grounded for nickel-and-dime parts such as screws, nuts, bolts, gaskets and washers," said Chief Master Sgt. Duane Showalter, 379th ELRS Materiel Management Flight chief.

Keeping a greater amount of these types of parts will reduce mission-capable incidents and, in turn, increase the number of aircraft available to support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Chief Showalter said.

"It's a significant increase in the wing's capability," said Col. Michael Arnold, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron commander. "With more parts available here, we can return aircraft to flying status faster with less downtime."

But a major timesaver is the amount saved from not having to wait on parts to be shipped here.

"Parts will now be more readily available here on the warehouse shelf rather than waiting four to 14 days for shipments to arrive," the chief said. "I think in the long run, it will also save money because the spares are being shipped in bulk rather than one or two at a time. Less shipments could mean a huge cost savings."

"Maximizing readiness and capability is our maintenance mission," Colonel Arnold said. "Anything that helps us improve readiness is a win for us and the operators we support."

"Our goal has and always will be to provide the best supply support possible because we all know that what we are really doing here is protecting our friends and family back home," Chief Showalter said.

But supporting families back home is just one aspect of job satisfaction.

"We also love to hear those engines roar as the aircraft takes off," the chief said, "because we know we had a part, even if it was small, in getting it off the ground."