Module 8 - Creativity

 Recently, we had the opportunity to attempt creativity, but it was no easy task.  Our aircraft, EC-130H, is the oldest C-130 still flying.  As the logistics liaison, we have some unique challenges ensuring there are enough parts to keep this aircraft flying.  This systems and parts in this aircraft are old and aren't installed in the newer aircraft.  A lot of our parts are facing obsolesce.  For the past year we have been struggling to secure an Air Turbine Motor (ATM) for our aircraft.  We discovered there are no serviceable ATMs in the Air Force inventory.  The ATMs that are unserviceable are waiting on a parts kit from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).  A parts kit is a bunch of components such as bearings, seals, valves, and other minor parts.  We found out that DLA hasn't had a buyer for the parts kit contract in over a year.  

Now it was our time to get creative and figure out a solution.  We contacted DLA and asked them what are they going to do about the contract.  Within a few days, a new contract was awarded and gave us a 6 month estimate time that the parts kit would be available.  Next, we had to figure out some short term solutions.  We asked if all the unserviceable ATMs were really waiting for a parts kit replacement.  Supply sent a team out and they looked at 100 ATMs.  Turns out that 11 of the 100 ATMs were not waiting on parts kit, but was unserviceable for other reasons.  Currently, those 11 ATMs are getting evaluated for serviceability.  Another idea we had was for the unit to perform minor repairs on the ATMs that are found to be unserviceable on the aircraft.  That is getting reviewed.  Our only option for ATMs is to request some from the aircraft at the Air Force's boneyard.  Pulling from retired aircraft is a last resort, but that is where we sit today.  The problem with pulling from the boneyard is you have to have a demand on the supply system or an ATM has to be unserviceable.  Well, the process from pulling a part out of the boneyard can be up to 30 days.  We don't have that time to wait, so we are asking to pull ATMs from the boneyard before we have a bad one.  We were recently approved to do so.

These creative ideas were encouraged and promoted from the unit and our leadership.  However, the supply chain had issues with theses requests.  The main reason for all of them were because this situation and request were not the norm.  We had to present the fact that we have no current way of producing serviceable ATMs.  It was a struggle convincing the organizations that are in charge of maintaining parts to keep of different ways of doing their job.  Thankfully, we explained our situation and the supply folks listened.  We are working together as a team figuring out problems with creative soluations.