Hickam C-17 crews learn Lean concepts

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Chris Vadnais
  • Air Force Regional News Center - Pacific
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Maintenance Squadron here are learning how to streamline the processes they’ll use to maintain Hickam’s new fleet of C-17 Globemaster IIIs.

Officials from the Boeing Company, which manufactures the C-17, headed the week-long Lean Concepts Workshop. The focus was the 120-day inspection that maintenance teams will conduct to keep the jets running.

The idea is to consider how to most efficiently handle routine maintenance, leaving out any unnecessary steps. The teams also took into consideration the situation at Hickam -- the weather and the fact that there are no hangars yet for the aircraft.

“It’s basically doing more with less,” said Master Sgt. Edwin Kalilikane, who coordinated the workshop for the 154th MXS. “The ultimate goal is to minimize the downtime of the aircraft, comply with inspections, keep the aircraft in a safe and operational mode -- you know, preventative-maintenance kinds of things.”

The recent arrival of a fourth C-17 marked Hickam’s graduation from a developing airlift wing with training assets to a fully operational unit -- responsible to Pacific Air Forces -- and capable of handling warfighting and humanitarian relief efforts anywhere in the theater.

Keeping the brand-new assets in top shape is a must. The Air Force can’t afford to slack on maintaining the jets, but it also can’t afford to waste time and resources with a procedure that doesn't contribute to their longevity, Sergeant Kalilikane said.

“If it doesn’t add value to the process we’re going to try to eliminate it,” he said.