News

WR-ALC best in Air Force for second consecutive year

  • Published
  • By Tim Kurtz
  • Warner Robins AIr Logistics Complex Management Operations

The Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex has been honored for the second consecutive year as the top depot maintenance unit in the Air Force.

The complex was named the winner of the 2016 Air Force Maintenance Effectiveness Award, Depot Category in an email announcement from the Pentagon  March 2.

WR-ALC earned the same honor for fiscal 2015.  

“Only champions truly know how hard it is to win repeat titles,” Brig. Gen. John Kubinec, WR-ALC commander, said. “It’s a tremendous achievement to capture a single MEA. To win such an honor for two years running is beyond extraordinary.

“This is a direct result of our professional work force and their dedication to the Art of the Possible production management system,” he said. “I want to commend and thank each and every member of our astounding team – from the work force to the union, management and our operational partners -- for this remarkable achievement. Their hard work, dedication and professionalism have brought great and deserved recognition upon our complex. More importantly, their performance is keeping the fighting forces of our Air Force ready for combat,” the general said.

WR-ALC is now the Air Force nominee for the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award.

According to the citation for the MEA, WR-ALC “distinguished itself by accomplishing superior aircraft maintenance” during fiscal 2016.  It further stated the complex “demonstrated outstanding results in innovation, performance, and efficiency across the entire spectrum of mission challenges, resulting in the best production, financial, safety, and quality statistics in the past six years.”

The award citation also noted, “Speed, quality, safety, and cost trends were all positive.” In fiscal 2016, the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group delivered 182 of 179 planned aircraft – C-5, C-17, C-130 and F-15 -- back to the warfighter and increased its due date performance by 17 percent.

WR-ALC exceeded all other production targets during the award year, as well.

The complex delivered 34,947 commodities against a target of 33,908; and 60,725 exchangeable units against a 55,639 target. The 402nd Software Maintenance Group completed 239 software projects with a target of 205.

It was an extraordinarily successful year for safety at the complex. The work force achieved a 55-percent reduction in injuries and a 50-percent reduction in acceptance inspection deficiency reports.

Some of the WR-ALC mission highlights for fiscal 2016 included:

The complex ended the year with a positive $119 million net operating revenue — $89.4 million above the plan for the year.

WR-ALC recorded the highest quality rates in five years with a 50 percent reduction in Acceptance Inspection Deficiency Reports. AIDRs are filed when units receive an aircraft or engine back from the depot that has work deficiencies.   

The emerging safety culture of the complex brought about a 69 percent reduction in recordable property damage.

C-5 production in the 559th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was at 100 percent on-time for the fifth consecutive year. This record-breaking achievement exceeded the Air Force Materiel Command goal by 5 percent.

Despite major network changes and parts issues, the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron produced 67 of 68 F-15s.

The complex achieved a significant reduction in C-130 programmed depot maintenance flow days from an average of 238 days to an average of 139 days -- a 41.6 percent improvement.

The 562nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron improved its on-time delivery rate for C-17s from 74 percent to 98 percent.

Corrosion control painted 126 total aircraft.

Answering the combat customer’s call, the C-130 PDM acceleration line produced six Air Force Special Operations Command C-130 gunships in record time. One gunship PDM was completed in 100 days – 22 percent faster than the previous record.

The largest avionics depot in the Department of Defense with 46,000 priority assets sported a 119 percent efficiency rate.

The avionics team sustained a 93 percent mission capable rate for 931 testers, which enabled depot repair support of more than 300 systems.

The 402 Electronic Maintenance Group’s gyro flight slashed work in progress from 1000-plus to 241 units in just 10 months.

In a year of unparalleled commodities production, the 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group’s wing shop produced 136 wings, enabling 49,000 F-15 sorties and 93,000 flying hours; and overhauled 293 C-130 propellers, enabling 504 C-130s to fly 163,300 hours and 71,000 sorties.