EASA Part 145 Base Maintenance Post Check Follow up

Sofema Online (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com considers the process of reviewing the system’s effectiveness following the completion of a Base Maintenance Check.

Introduction

An ideal time to optimize the various processes occurs following each maintenance check, an investment in this opportunity will typically reap benefits in overall efficiency & effectiveness.

Consider the typical issues which can be looked at following the completion of a maintenance check:

» Manpower utilization – actual versus estimation (manpower is one of the most significant costs so being able to determine the efficiency of use and the reasons for any deviation is beneficial):

o It is important to ensure that we allocate resources effectively.

o Too little manpower will be flagged up – but how to establish if we have too much manpower?

The more detailed the manpower utilization recording systems the better will be the analysis of the data.

» Lost Time Summary – Means tracking the reason why personnel delays occur for example waiting for access, waiting for equipment & waiting for tooling or spares.

» Considerations related to defects found during the maintenance check

o It is normal to find defects during maintenance – this is why we do maintenance.

o The information however may be analyzed as part of the reliability process.

o This information is also an indicator of the general and overall effectiveness of the maintenance.

Note: A lower level of defect reporting is an indication of effective maintenance

» Considerations related to defects deferred during the maintenance

o Defects deferred during maintenance reflect on the ability to support the maintenance product, so to follow up to understand if there are any exposures which should be addressed?

» Any particular logistics issues

o Logistic issues - The ideal situation is where the correct spares and material are preloaded for the maintenance check.

o If for some reason we have to order on an urgent basis, it can impact the costs. (To understand and address or if possible, mitigate any issues arising is a beneficial activity)

» Any particular Manpower Issues

» Any Particular Documentation or Data issues

» Are there lessons which we have learned that need to be incorporated into processes & procedures?

General Process to Analyse and Address Issues

» What is the issue?

» Why did it occur?

» Does this issue warrant formal reporting – for example to a business area owner – how? Or through the Internal Reporting System (Referred to Quality & Safety Departments).

» Does it need to be referred to Quality or Safety for additional actions? – If yes generate an internal reporting document.

Note: If anything is observed which impacts an existing behavior or procedure – then ensure that an action is allocated against a responsible person

Human Factor Related Considerations

Were there any Human factor issues during the maintenance Check?

» Maintenance which is not carried out correctly may contribute to an aviation incident or accident. (For example, parts which are installed incorrectly, parts which are missing, also incomplete maintenance for a variety of reasons.)

» Accepting that maintenance personnel may be responsible for the problem is only part of the issue, as there may be related organizational factors which contribute to the outcome.

A detailed investigation may be appropriate to examine the risk and exposure which is present in the organization which is either causal or contributing to the issue in question.

Next Steps 

Sofema Aviation Services www.sassofia.com and Sofema Online www.sofemaonline.com provide EASA Compliant Regulatory and Vocational Training. For more information, please visit our websites or contact team@sassofia.com