The status of lean implementation within South African aircraft maintenance organisations

Globally the implementation of Lean techniques has proven to be successful inimproving quality while reducing turn around times and costs within aircraftmaintenance facilities, including those companies that are of a competitive threatto South African companies.The purpose of this study is to determine the level of Lean implementation withinSouth African aircraft maintenance facilities, due to the lack of current data orresearch regarding this subject. Quantitative and qualitative data was derivedfrom interviews conducted with senior management of a sample of Gautengbased facilities and the results where triangulated and interpreted to determineboth their understanding and the status of Lean within their facilities.Lean implementation was not evident in the maintenance facilities surveyed. Themajority of persons interviewed showed a lack of understanding of Lean. Therewas no evidence of any discernable methodology, such as Six Sigma or theTheory of Constraints, being in place. The results of the study will benchmarkSouth African aircraft maintenance organisations against their global competitionand will determine what actions should be undertaken, if any, with respect toLean, so as to ensure they retain or improve their share of the expanding globaland African aviation maintenance market.