by April McDonald
72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
7/31/2015 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The numbers alone speak for themselves.
Using the Art of the Possible and a modular flow process, the 551st
Commodities Maintenance Squadron's B-52 Wrap Cowls shop has reduced its
production time from 155 days to around 22 days. That's a difference of
133 days and a savings of more than $1 million during the last four
years.
David Deal, 551st CMMXS B-52 Wrap Cowls shop supervisor, said the shop's
old cradle-to-grave process was slow and not clearly defined. It's not
that way with modular flow, which breaks the process down into six
different segments, or modules. Each module has a designated number of
hours for the mechanics to do their jobs before sending the part to the
next station.
"Every time it moves, a new one takes its place," Deal said. "It's a complete cycle all the way through."
A cowl is the metal covering around an aircraft engine, similar to a
hood on a car. The shop produces a cowl every one-and-a-half days. That
translates into about 322 a year.
"This year, we've done so well that they've had to back our numbers down because we've outpaced our customers," Deal said.
Under the cradle-to-grave approach, each mechanic had to be good at the
entire process. With modular flow, the mechanics become very proficient
with a small section of each part of the process, Deal said.
He said workers are a big part of the shop's success, as they are the driving force behind many of the changes.
"The whole process is designed around the workers being involved," Deal
said. "Basically, it involves the employees at the very bottom level."
Leadership included employees in meetings where they discussed the process and brainstormed ideas to save time and money.
"Absolutely, these folks are the engines behind all this," Deal said.
"They do it every day. There will be times they bring things in to me
and we'll make a change if it makes sense."
Darrel Anderson, 551st CMMXS director, said the B-52 Wrap Cowls shop is definitely a success story.
"This shop is a good example of where the AFSC Way has caught hold," he
said. "From bringing those ideas forward, advocating for change and
constantly looking for improvements, this team understands their
process, can quickly identify constraints and uses process improvement
to eliminate those constraints. They are excellent problem solvers."
Anderson said about four years ago the shop had back orders through the roof.
"We were really struggling," he said. "Now we're cranking them out,
smooth as silk. It was a matter of designing the shop with optimum
throughput in mind, engaging our enterprise partners and training and
enabling our people to be part of the solution."
by Maj. Jon Quinlan
507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
7/23/2015 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A
historic chapter is now closed as one of the first Air Reserve
Component Associations between the Air Force Reserve and Air National
Guard formally ended June 30 after a successful eight year partnership
between the 507th and 137th Air Refueling Wings.
The ARC association ended with an Oklahoma Air National Guard crew's
final training flight on a Reserve KC-135, logging the last flight hours
under the historic association.
"The 507th ARW's association with the Oklahoma Air National Guard has
been a model of Total Force integration success," said Col. Brian Davis,
507th Air Refueling Wing commander. "Our formal association has now
ended, but the ongoing relationship between the Guard and Reserve in
Oklahoma will certainly continue for years to come."
During the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure and Total Force Integration
process, the 507th Air Refueling Wing was selected to become one of the
first Air Force Reserve units to serve as a host wing for an associate
Air National Guard wing. Aircrew and maintenance members from the 137th
ARW moved from Will Rogers Air National Guard Base and started flying
and maintaining the KC-135 as equal partners in 2007 at Tinker Air Force
Base.
During the association's past eight years, the wings combined have
amassed more than 13,500 flying hours, according to Lt. Col. Mark Hole,
185th Air Refueling Squadron director of operations. The partnership
successes included an Excellent rating in the 2012 Nuclear and
Conventional Operational Readiness Inspection, 86 percent KC-135 Mission
Capability Rating, successful deployments to Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar,
Gelsenkirchen Air Base, Germany, and exercise support missions in the
Rim of the Pacific exercise.
"From the beginning, members of the Guard and Reserve laid the
foundation that made the association work and made it so successful,"
said Davis. "A total partnership in all areas and at all levels was key.
It was the people who made it work. Every unit had a story of teamwork
and overcoming obstacles."
Going forward, the 507th ARW will continue to fly and maintain the
KC-135R Stratotanker for Air Force Reserve Command. The 137th will
transition to Air Force Special Operations Command operating the MC-12
Liberty for the Oklahoma Air National Guard out of Will Rogers.
The 507th Air Refueling Wing 507 ARW is the largest Air Force Reserve
flying unit in the state of Oklahoma. The wing reports to Fourth Air
Force and supports Air Mobility Command's airlift and air refueling
requirements. The wing is responsible for reserve C-17 and KC-135 flight
training at a geographically separated unit, the 730th Air Mobility
Training Squadron at Altus AFB, Okla.
by John Parker
Tinker Public Affairs
7/21/2015 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 552nd Air Control Wing Canadian Detachment gained a new commander last week.
Lt. Col. Don "Boc" Saunders took the reins from Lt. Col. Pete "Dozer" Dozois at a Tinker Club ceremony July 10.
Canadian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Alain Pelletier, deputy commander of
the Continental United States NORAD (North American Air Defense) region,
said Colonel Saunders brings "vast experience in the command and
control domain" to his new command.
"He knows the mission, knows the aircraft, knows some of you and is
eager to get to work," the general said at the ceremony. "To you and
Shannon (the colonel's wife) and to the whole family, we wish you a
happy return to the 552nd wing and all the best in your command."
The Canadian ceremony was similar to those of the U.S. Air Force except
for a few remarks in French, some Canadian accents and a bagpiper
leading in and exiting the official party. Instead of passing a guidon,
the three commanders simultaneously signed change of command
certificates at a table at center stage.
Colonel Saunders previously served at Tinker AFB with the 964th Airborne
Air Control Squadron, logging over 1,200 hours on E-3 Airborne Warning
and Control System aircraft.
He has served in the Canadian and Alaskan NORAD defense sectors, ending
his Alaskan tour as the region's chief of Command and Control Standards
and Evaluation.
Colonel Saunders has also held the posts of deputy commanding officer of
21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron and commander of 51 Aerospace
Control and Warning Squadron in North Bay, Ontario.
Colonel Saunders told detachment members that "Tinker is the only place
that you can come to get an opportunity to be the best at what you have
trained to do in your career." A Tinker posting is the best job
available for members in the AWACS field, he said.
"It's an exclusive club because we only send our best here," Colonel
Saunders said. "Someone along the way has identified each and every one
of you and said you're the best at what you do, and that's why you're
here. So to get a chance to be a commander of this unit is truly an
honor."
General Pelletier said Colonel Dozois focused on readiness and
meaningful contributions by the 42-member detachment to the 552nd ACW
mission during his nearly three-year command. The colonel also focused
on the detachment's charge to represent Canada, he said.
"You've put the right level of emphasis on the readiness of those troops
and for that I'm really appreciative," the general said. "But you've
also done and taken the element of ambassadorship with great pride
because, obviously, wearing this uniform we stand out, not only at the
front gate, but also in town in what we do."
Colonel Dozois said he is proud of the detachment's achievements as 552nd warriors.
"You have met your wing commander's priorities of combat operational
personal readiness at every turn," he said, "and you guys have totally
reset the bar for what Wingman readiness is all about in the way that
you take care of each other and the way you've built your command and
community. Awesome."
The ceremony also included a significant promotion for Chief Warrant
Officer Guy Tremblay. The most senior ranking noncommissioned member of
the Canadian Forces was commissioned and immediately promoted to
captain.
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