NCMS Project #: 143072
Problem: To remain globally competitive, it is vital for commercial manufacturing, maintenance and repair industries to continuously improve their processes, training, and facilities to provide safer work environments for their employees, decrease re-work caused by mistakes, and lower costs.
Benefit: By testing new technologies across multiple areas common to maintenance and sustainment organizations, this effort will demonstrate the benefits of improving several processes to address issues of concern to commercial businesses and end consumers.
Solution/Approach: Phase II will expand efforts of Phase I by investigating complementary advancements that reduce errors by utilizing smarter machine technologies to improve the day-to-day functions of the maintenance and sustainment workforce. This initiative will use Tinker Air Force base as a surrogate. Specific technologies to be demonstrated during Phase II include an intelligent torque wrench and machine vision inspection module. These technologies are anticipated to decrease the risk of human errors in a maintenance environment.
Impact on Warfighter:
- Minimize disruptions and delays
- Increase production accuracy
- Improve operational efficiencies
- Reduce safety risks and costs
DOD Participation:
- Tinker Air Force Base
- 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group
- 76th Maintenance Support Group
- 776th Maintenance Support Squadron
- 76th Maintenance Support Squadron (observer)
- 544th Maintenance Support Squadron (observer)
- 548th Maintenance Support Squadron (observer)
Industry Participation:
- Air Power, Inc.
- Accurex
- NCMS
Benefit Area(s):
- Cost savings
- Repair turnaround time
- Mx avoidance & reliability
- Obsolescence
- Mx management improvement
- Improved readiness
- Reliability improvement
Mx Focus Area:
- Advanced/Additive Manufacturing
