Local C-130 PDM team takes DoD Maintenance Award Published Aug. 29, 2012 By Jenny Gordon ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The C-130 Programmed Depot Maintenance Team at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex has recently been awarded the 2012 Secretary of Defense Depot-level Maintenance Award, known as the Robert T. Mason Award for Depot Maintenance Excellence. The 560th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron includes a workforce of more than 1,100 who provide programmed depot-level maintenance and modifications to C-130 aircraft. The award covers the time period from Oct 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011. After beginning fiscal 2011, a recovery plan was put in place with the 25 projected late aircraft and 13 carryover aircraft that would move into the new year. "We developed a transition plan of care and we built that focusing on due date performance," said Richard Frey, 560th AMXS director. "We looked at focusing on quality and safety, maximizing manloading, increasing our throughput and managing our infrastructure." "Part of the plan for the PDM line was to also stop working so many aircraft and maximize that manloading," he continued. "So we developed a six dock plan that allowed us to only work six aircraft at a time." The squadron also focused on quality improvement initiatives, such as building new break rooms, a snack bar, and renovating restrooms as well as the facility where PDM is accomplished, to improve morale and motivation. Through additional initiatives, such as Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century and utilizing high velocity maintenance tenets to increase throughput, Frey concluded that the plan set the team up for success moving ahead. "We knew that if we put a detailed plan together, that fiscal 2012 would be successful," he said. "And because of that plan we sold nine aircraft in September 2011, which allowed us to go into fiscal 2012 with zero carryovers, zero late aircraft, and 100 percent on-time delivery. As of August 21, the squadron had a 98.2 percent on-time delivery rate. And the team has the goal to again win the award next year. The Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Program each year recognizes outstanding Department of Defense depot-level military programs. This year there were eight nominations. "The world's finest aircraft maintainers work on the Robins flight line, and receiving the prestigious Robert Mason trophy is testament to the maintenance professionalism of not only our C-130 production team, but our entire 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group," said Col. Tim Molnar, 402nd AMXG commander. "I'm honored to serve here on this world-class team. Our goal now is to capitalize on this achievement, continuously deliver high-quality aircraft to the warfighter, and earn the right to perform additional work for our Air Force and our nation." "This is similar to winning the Super Bowl in our business. Words cannot express how proud I am of this significant accomplishment," said Brig. Gen. Cedric George, WR-ALC commander. "Our C-130 team returned 64 aircraft to the war fighter, reduced work-in-progress from 41 to 36 aircraft, slashed flow days from 102 to 69 days and achieved 100 percent on-time delivery by the end of fiscal 2011. Congratulations and job well done." An awards ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 15 at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., as part of the 2012 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition.