Topic Area
MAINTENANCE
Abstract
Literature for Safety Management Systems (SMS) that apply to flight operations is abundant, but there is a limited supply of SMS-related literature for maintenance operations. The FAA emphatically states on its website that safety is the “foundation of everything we do,” and this is reflected in the FAA Flight Plan, where the general tenor of this document is increasing safety. However, while there is ample mention of flight safety, there is no mention of maintenance-related safety in the FAA Flight Plan.
Even though the benefits of SMS are well established, it is difficult for maintenance facilities—especially small repair stations—to justify the cost. Current research also reveals a negative sentiment shared by small repair stations regarding SMS. While the high cost of implementing an SMS is the putative reason for not doing so, there could be other non-identified factors that hinder its implementation.
This research project utilizes a survey of practicing maintenance technicians to attempt to reveal the hindrances that prohibit successful SMS implementation in maintenance facilities. The study will determine the safety practices currently utilized, the attitude of maintenance personnel toward SMS, the awareness of safety reporting systems, the level of protection offered to employees who submit safety reports, and what is seen as the greatest hindrance to SMS implementation.
Data collection for this research is currently underway, and preliminary analysis will be available by the date of the conference.
Start Date
16-1-2015 3:30 PM
End Date
16-1-2015 5:00 PM
Scholarly Commons Citation
Siao, Daniel H., "The Implementation of Safety Management Systems in Maintenance Operations" (2015). Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference. 20.
https://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2015/Friday/20
Included in
The Implementation of Safety Management Systems in Maintenance Operations
Literature for Safety Management Systems (SMS) that apply to flight operations is abundant, but there is a limited supply of SMS-related literature for maintenance operations. The FAA emphatically states on its website that safety is the “foundation of everything we do,” and this is reflected in the FAA Flight Plan, where the general tenor of this document is increasing safety. However, while there is ample mention of flight safety, there is no mention of maintenance-related safety in the FAA Flight Plan.
Even though the benefits of SMS are well established, it is difficult for maintenance facilities—especially small repair stations—to justify the cost. Current research also reveals a negative sentiment shared by small repair stations regarding SMS. While the high cost of implementing an SMS is the putative reason for not doing so, there could be other non-identified factors that hinder its implementation.
This research project utilizes a survey of practicing maintenance technicians to attempt to reveal the hindrances that prohibit successful SMS implementation in maintenance facilities. The study will determine the safety practices currently utilized, the attitude of maintenance personnel toward SMS, the awareness of safety reporting systems, the level of protection offered to employees who submit safety reports, and what is seen as the greatest hindrance to SMS implementation.
Data collection for this research is currently underway, and preliminary analysis will be available by the date of the conference.