Aircraft accident evaluation using quality assessement tools
Abstract
The case study is focused on the application of principal quality tools in a fourth generation jet fighter to evaluate a maintenance activity in an accident investigation process. The paper assesses aircraft engineers’ performance on checking aircraft tyre inflation pressure before the aircraft’s flight. Process evaluation is organized by the application of fundamental quality tools in order to provide vital information regarding the level of control. The methodology combines the benefits of statistical quality control, root cause determination, and preventive actions, to eliminate maintenance discrepancy in the future. The methodology revealed an approach to generate useful safety metrics from incident reporting data. Furthermore, this study pointed out the significance of participation at all technician levels for the successful implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM). Also, it discusses the value of TQM in aviation and suggests that continuous improvement is still needed. The paper is based on practical work being undertaken in a military squadron and, therefore, is demonstrated to be practical in an aviation environment. This study would encourage aviation personnel to rely on TQM methods for performing quality assessment monitoring and achieving continuous improvement.
Keyword : military aviation, quality, aircraft, cause and effect analysis, measurement analysis, SPC
How to Cite
Makrygianni, M. J. (2018). Aircraft accident evaluation using quality assessement tools. Aviation, 22(2), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.3846/aviation.2018.5995
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Al-Garni, A. Z., Sahin, A. Z., Al-Ghamdi, A. S., & Al-Kaabi, S. A. (1999). Reliability analysis of aeroplane brakes. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 15(2), 143-150. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1638(199903/04)15:2<143::AID-QRE239>3.0.CO;2-O
Ali, F., Dey, B. L., & Filieri, R. (2015). An assessment of service quality and resulting customer satisfaction in Pakistan International Airlines: findings from foreigners and overseas Pakistani customers. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 32(5), 486-502. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-07-2013-0110
Bhat, K. S., & Rajashekhar, J. (2009). An empirical study of barriers to TQM implementation in Indian Industries. The TQM Magazine, 21(3), 261-272. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542730910953031
Bhuiyan, N., Baghel, A., & Wilson, J. (2006). A sustainable continuous improvement methodology at an aerospace company. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 55(8), 671-687. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410400610710206
Borror, M. C. (2008). The certified quality engineer handbook (3rd ed., pp. 258-259). USA: American Society for Quality, Quality Press.
Breyfogle, III F. W. (2001). Managing Six Sigma. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Carayon, P., Hancock, P., Leveson, N., Noy, Y. I., Sznelwar, L., & van Hootegem, G. (2015). Advancing a sociotechnical systems approach to workplace safety: Developing the conceptual framework. Ergonomics, 58(4), 548-564. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2015.1015623
Cheng, J.-Ch., Lo, Ch.-Y., Liu, S.-H., Tsay, Y.-L. (2004). Application of Quality Functional Deployment to the assessment of aircraft maintenance education. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, National Huwei University of Science and Technology.
Duffuaa, S. O., & Ben-Daya, M. (1995). Improving maintenance quality using SPC tools. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 1(2), 25-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552519510089565
Faisal, T., Rahman, Z., & Qureshi, M. N. (2011). Analysis of interaction among the barriers to total quality management implementation using interpretive structural modeling approach. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 18(4), 563-587. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635771111147641
Fraser, K., Hvolby, H.-H., & Tseng, T.-L. (2015). Maintenance management models: a study of the published literature to identify empirical evidence: A greater practical focus is needed. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 32(6), 635-664. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-11-2013-0185
Garg, P., & Garg, A. (2013). An empirical study on critical failure factors for enterprise resource planning implementation in Indian retail sector. Business Process Management Journal, 19(3), 496-514. https://doi.org/10.1108/14637151311319923
Harry, M., & Schroeder, R. (2000). Six Sigma: The breakthrough management strategy revolutionizing the World’s Top Corporations. New York: Currency.
Juran, M. Joseph. (1998). Juran’s quality handbook. America: McGraw-Hill.
Karanikas, N. (2013). Using reliability indicators to explore human factors issues in maintenance databases. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 30(2), 116-128. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656711311293544
Khalid, M., Ilyas, M., Ahmad, Q., & Asim, N. (2014). An empirical study on measurement of performance through TQM in Pakistani aviation manufacturing industry. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 31(6): 665-680. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-03-2012-0041
Knezevic, J. (2012). Quality of maintenance: Mirce Mechanics axiom. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 18(2), 216-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552511211244238
Kumar, R., Garg, D., & Garg, T. K. (2009). Total quality management in Indian industries: relevance, analysis and directions. The TQM Journal, 21(6), 607-622. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542730910995873
Leung, T., Carroll, T., Hung, M., Tsang, A., & Chung, W. (2007). The Carroll-Hung method for component reliability mapping in aircraft maintenance. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 23(1), 137-154. https://doi.org/10.1002/qre.817
Makrygianni, M., Besseris, G., & Stergiou, K. (2011, September 14-11). Reliability analysis and TQM problem solving tools for improving the maintenance operations in modern jet fighters. In International Conference of Quality and Reliability (pp. 413-420). Bangkok, Thailand: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICQR.2011.6031752
Mitra Debnath, R., & Shankar, R. (2014). Emerging trend of customer satisfaction in academic process an application SPC and Taguchi’s robust parameter design. The TQM Journal 26(1), 14-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-10-2011-0064
Montgomery, D. C. (2005). Introduction to statistical quality control (5th ed.). New York, NY.: John Wiley & Sons.
Pari, G., Kumar, S., & Sharma, V. (2008). Reliability improvement of electronics standby display system of modern aircraft. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 25(9), 955-967. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656710810908106
Park, H., Kang, M. J., & Son, S. (2012). Factors affecting quality and performance – a case study of Korean aircraft maintenance unit. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(2), 197-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.639560
Psychogios, G. A., & Tsironis, K. L. (2012). Towards an integrated framework for Lean Six Sigma aplication: Lessons from the airline industry. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(3-4), 397-415. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.637787
Pyzdek, T. (1999). The Six Sigma Revolution. Quality America Inc.
Pyzdek T. (2003). The Six Sigma Handbook: The complete guide for greenbelts, blackbelts, and managers at all levels (2nd ed., pp. 420-428). McGraw-Hill.
Rašuo B., & Ðuknic, G. (2013). Optimization of the aircraft general overhaul process. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, 85(5), 343-354. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-02-2012-0017
Reiman, T. (2007). Assessing organizational culture in complex sociotechnical systems. Methodological evidence from studies in nuclear power plant maintenance organizations (Academic Dissertation). Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki.
Sanfourche, J.-P. (2001). Safety, environment, ATM: Three key issues. Air and Space Europe, 3(3/4), 201-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1290-0958(01)90094-2
Schrage, D. P. (1990, January 17-19). The impact of Total Quality Management (TQM) and concurrent engineering on the aircraft design process. Paper presented at Vertical Lift Aircraft Design Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Sokovic, M., & Pavletic, D. (2006, September 13-15). PDCA cycle vs. DMAIC and DFSS. Paper presented at Proceedings of the 1st International Conference ICQME, Budva, Montenegro.
Sun, J. (2002). Dynamic process capability indices. Asian Journal on Quality, 3(2), 74-83. https://doi.org/10.1108/15982688200200020
Vassilakis, E., & Besseris, G. (2009). An application of TQM tools at a maintenance division of a large aerospace company. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 15(1), 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552510910943877
Vassilakis, E., & Besseris, G. (2010). The use of SPC tools for a preliminary assessment of an aero engines’ maintenance process and prioritization of aero engines’ faults. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 16(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552511011030291
Vouzas, F., & Psychogios, A. G. (2007). Assessing managers’ awareness of TQM. The TQM Magazine, 19(1), 62-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/09544780710720844
Vulanovic, V., Stanivukovic, D., Kamberovic, B., Rada, N., Maksimovic, R., Radlovacki, V., & Silobad, M. (2003). Methods and techniques of process improvement. (pp. 129-149, 311-320). Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad.
Wilson, J. R. (2014). Fundamentals of systems ergonomics/human factors. Applied Ergonomics, 45(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.03.021
Wong, W. K., Ng, S. H., & Xu, K. (2006). A statistical investigation and optimization of an industrial radiography inspection process for aero-engine components. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 22(3), 321-334. https://doi.org/10.1002/qre.698
Ali, F., Dey, B. L., & Filieri, R. (2015). An assessment of service quality and resulting customer satisfaction in Pakistan International Airlines: findings from foreigners and overseas Pakistani customers. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 32(5), 486-502. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-07-2013-0110
Bhat, K. S., & Rajashekhar, J. (2009). An empirical study of barriers to TQM implementation in Indian Industries. The TQM Magazine, 21(3), 261-272. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542730910953031
Bhuiyan, N., Baghel, A., & Wilson, J. (2006). A sustainable continuous improvement methodology at an aerospace company. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 55(8), 671-687. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410400610710206
Borror, M. C. (2008). The certified quality engineer handbook (3rd ed., pp. 258-259). USA: American Society for Quality, Quality Press.
Breyfogle, III F. W. (2001). Managing Six Sigma. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Carayon, P., Hancock, P., Leveson, N., Noy, Y. I., Sznelwar, L., & van Hootegem, G. (2015). Advancing a sociotechnical systems approach to workplace safety: Developing the conceptual framework. Ergonomics, 58(4), 548-564. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2015.1015623
Cheng, J.-Ch., Lo, Ch.-Y., Liu, S.-H., Tsay, Y.-L. (2004). Application of Quality Functional Deployment to the assessment of aircraft maintenance education. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, National Huwei University of Science and Technology.
Duffuaa, S. O., & Ben-Daya, M. (1995). Improving maintenance quality using SPC tools. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 1(2), 25-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552519510089565
Faisal, T., Rahman, Z., & Qureshi, M. N. (2011). Analysis of interaction among the barriers to total quality management implementation using interpretive structural modeling approach. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 18(4), 563-587. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635771111147641
Fraser, K., Hvolby, H.-H., & Tseng, T.-L. (2015). Maintenance management models: a study of the published literature to identify empirical evidence: A greater practical focus is needed. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 32(6), 635-664. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-11-2013-0185
Garg, P., & Garg, A. (2013). An empirical study on critical failure factors for enterprise resource planning implementation in Indian retail sector. Business Process Management Journal, 19(3), 496-514. https://doi.org/10.1108/14637151311319923
Harry, M., & Schroeder, R. (2000). Six Sigma: The breakthrough management strategy revolutionizing the World’s Top Corporations. New York: Currency.
Juran, M. Joseph. (1998). Juran’s quality handbook. America: McGraw-Hill.
Karanikas, N. (2013). Using reliability indicators to explore human factors issues in maintenance databases. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 30(2), 116-128. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656711311293544
Khalid, M., Ilyas, M., Ahmad, Q., & Asim, N. (2014). An empirical study on measurement of performance through TQM in Pakistani aviation manufacturing industry. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 31(6): 665-680. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-03-2012-0041
Knezevic, J. (2012). Quality of maintenance: Mirce Mechanics axiom. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 18(2), 216-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552511211244238
Kumar, R., Garg, D., & Garg, T. K. (2009). Total quality management in Indian industries: relevance, analysis and directions. The TQM Journal, 21(6), 607-622. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542730910995873
Leung, T., Carroll, T., Hung, M., Tsang, A., & Chung, W. (2007). The Carroll-Hung method for component reliability mapping in aircraft maintenance. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 23(1), 137-154. https://doi.org/10.1002/qre.817
Makrygianni, M., Besseris, G., & Stergiou, K. (2011, September 14-11). Reliability analysis and TQM problem solving tools for improving the maintenance operations in modern jet fighters. In International Conference of Quality and Reliability (pp. 413-420). Bangkok, Thailand: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICQR.2011.6031752
Mitra Debnath, R., & Shankar, R. (2014). Emerging trend of customer satisfaction in academic process an application SPC and Taguchi’s robust parameter design. The TQM Journal 26(1), 14-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-10-2011-0064
Montgomery, D. C. (2005). Introduction to statistical quality control (5th ed.). New York, NY.: John Wiley & Sons.
Pari, G., Kumar, S., & Sharma, V. (2008). Reliability improvement of electronics standby display system of modern aircraft. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 25(9), 955-967. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656710810908106
Park, H., Kang, M. J., & Son, S. (2012). Factors affecting quality and performance – a case study of Korean aircraft maintenance unit. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(2), 197-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.639560
Psychogios, G. A., & Tsironis, K. L. (2012). Towards an integrated framework for Lean Six Sigma aplication: Lessons from the airline industry. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(3-4), 397-415. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.637787
Pyzdek, T. (1999). The Six Sigma Revolution. Quality America Inc.
Pyzdek T. (2003). The Six Sigma Handbook: The complete guide for greenbelts, blackbelts, and managers at all levels (2nd ed., pp. 420-428). McGraw-Hill.
Rašuo B., & Ðuknic, G. (2013). Optimization of the aircraft general overhaul process. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, 85(5), 343-354. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-02-2012-0017
Reiman, T. (2007). Assessing organizational culture in complex sociotechnical systems. Methodological evidence from studies in nuclear power plant maintenance organizations (Academic Dissertation). Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki.
Sanfourche, J.-P. (2001). Safety, environment, ATM: Three key issues. Air and Space Europe, 3(3/4), 201-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1290-0958(01)90094-2
Schrage, D. P. (1990, January 17-19). The impact of Total Quality Management (TQM) and concurrent engineering on the aircraft design process. Paper presented at Vertical Lift Aircraft Design Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Sokovic, M., & Pavletic, D. (2006, September 13-15). PDCA cycle vs. DMAIC and DFSS. Paper presented at Proceedings of the 1st International Conference ICQME, Budva, Montenegro.
Sun, J. (2002). Dynamic process capability indices. Asian Journal on Quality, 3(2), 74-83. https://doi.org/10.1108/15982688200200020
Vassilakis, E., & Besseris, G. (2009). An application of TQM tools at a maintenance division of a large aerospace company. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 15(1), 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552510910943877
Vassilakis, E., & Besseris, G. (2010). The use of SPC tools for a preliminary assessment of an aero engines’ maintenance process and prioritization of aero engines’ faults. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, 16(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552511011030291
Vouzas, F., & Psychogios, A. G. (2007). Assessing managers’ awareness of TQM. The TQM Magazine, 19(1), 62-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/09544780710720844
Vulanovic, V., Stanivukovic, D., Kamberovic, B., Rada, N., Maksimovic, R., Radlovacki, V., & Silobad, M. (2003). Methods and techniques of process improvement. (pp. 129-149, 311-320). Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad.
Wilson, J. R. (2014). Fundamentals of systems ergonomics/human factors. Applied Ergonomics, 45(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2013.03.021
Wong, W. K., Ng, S. H., & Xu, K. (2006). A statistical investigation and optimization of an industrial radiography inspection process for aero-engine components. Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 22(3), 321-334. https://doi.org/10.1002/qre.698