B-1 High Velocity Maintenance prototype phase next step in program Published Sept. 27, 2010 By Brandice J. Armstrong 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center B-1 Sustainment Division here has made headway in the B-1 High Velocity Maintenance program, which aims to trim 32 days off of programmed depot maintenance. Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the 13 B-1 Lancers scheduled to arrive at Tinker for programmed depot maintenance will experience the prototype process. If it proves successful, the B-1 HVM principles and newly developed capabilities will be applied to other weapon systems as they come to the air logistics center for PDM. Introduced two years ago, the HVM concept changes the way maintenance is performed on aircraft in the field at main operating bases and the depot. The prototype process goal is to reduce PDM flow days to 128 days from 160 days and ensures only four aircraft wait for maintenance in the depot at any given time. Typically eight aircraft await maintenance. "High Velocity Maintenance is a concentrated effort to improve all aspects of aircraft maintenance," said Brig. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, 76th Maintenance Wing commander. "HVM standardizes processes in critical areas allowing mechanics to focus on their area of expertise -- repairing jets. Everything from the condition of the aircraft before induction to parts and engineering problem resolution are being revamped." When the HVM concept was first introduced, each of the three air logistics centers were assigned to better the processes of one aircraft. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia went to work on the C-130 Hercules, Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah got to work on the F-22 Raptor, and the OC-ALC took on the B-1. B-1 Lancers are arriving at Tinker for routine PDM every five years. Meanwhile planners have been studying the needs of the aircraft and what it takes to turn those needs into requirements. Unlike past years and past projects, the overall goal is not to improve part of a process, but the entire chain. The project entails meshing engineers with planners, material supporters and maintainers. "It's a very large process that crosses a lot of boundaries," said Stephen Walker, B-1 HVM Team lead. Planners researched the daily standard work processes and ways to keep the mechanic on the aircraft like a surgeon is kept with his patient during an operation. "In today's environment, we give the mechanic his task and it is up to the mechanic to find his own parts and tools. The idea is that we're going to have the parts delivered to the ship site in task kits," Mr. Walker said. After solidifying and validating their plans, planners are ready for the prototype phase in which the plans and theories reach reality. Planners will also ensure there are no gaps in execution. "A year ago we defined a course of action to apply HVM processes to an incoming PDM B-1 aircraft the following fall. With the induction of 85-0079 at the end of September we remain on schedule and our HVM team, led by Mr. Walker, has worked tirelessly to ensure procedures that are initially prototyped to be effective, efficient and sustainable," said Col. Charles Sherwin, Aerospace Sustainment Directorate System Program manager and chief of the B-1 Sustainment Division. "We are excited to prove our new processes -- it's time for our sweat equity to start paying dividends to the warfighter." Mr. Walker agreed. "It's one thing to look at a process on its own, in its own world -- but it's a whole other thing to see it in a stream," he said. "This will be the first time we've actually taken a jet and used our new processes from tip to tail."