445 MOS leads Air Force in recent audit

  • Published
  • By Capt. Elizabeth Caraway
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The 445th Maintenance Operations Squadron was the only Air Force unit to return no significant findings in an audit completed in April by the Air Force Audit Agency Operations Directorate. Twelve units across six commands were audited for the September through October 2012 timeframe.

"The audit really showcased how our Plans, Scheduling, and Documentation Flight is the tip of the spear for the MOS," said Senior Master Sgt. Tim Emberton, 445th MOS superintendent. "Their attention to detail and the processes they're developing are the key to our success."

The surprise audit examined units' configuration management, the process that identifies and controls aircraft part operational information and performance throughout its life. Effective configuration management allows Air Force personnel to address potential safety-of-flight issues and monitor parts warranties.

Tracking maintenance information for serialized aircraft parts is one component of configuration management. By correctly identifying serialized items in the Maintenance Information System, schedulers decrease maintainer manpower requirements for making corrections, saving the Air Force time and money. This audit showcased how well the 445th PS&D Flight keeps track of more than 3,000 serially controlled parts for nine C-17A aircraft.

"The C-17A is such a technical airplane with so many time change items, yet our ARTs are constantly on top of all the parts and their schedules," said Emberton, citing Air Reserve Technicians Master Sgts. Greg King and Henry Harlow and Tech. Sgt. Shannon Marcum. The PS&D flight also has five traditional reservists filling out their team.

Time change items, or TCIs, are serialized parts with a limited life that require maintenance or replacement based on accrued aircraft flying hours, hours of equipment operation, elapsed calendar time, or unusual maintenance actions. The 445th MOS uses manual and automated systems to accurately track all of these TCIs, and the audit proved that their processes are working.

King, PS&D NCO in charge, explained, "We are constantly adapting to improve coordination with our maintainers and aircraft representatives. If we miss something, an aircraft could end up stranded across the country, or across the world. What we do not only saves the Air Force money, it keeps our people flying safe planes."