Utilizing quality tools : enhance the productivity at aircraft maintenance sector of Saudi airlines

Abstract EN

The performance at Saudi airlines maintenance company has dropped last three years, which revealed by the indication of the technical On-Time Performance (OTP) of A330 fleet.

Three types of technical delays played a big role for affecting the OTP.

These delays can be categorized as mechanical delays, spare part delays and the human error delays.

Therefore, this paper proposed a model that based on three quality control tools which are Pareto chart, P-chart, and Fishbone analysis.

These tools are integrated together to improve the maintenance services by studying the root causes of the three technical delays.

The Pareto chart used to highlight the aircraft subsystems that affecting the aircraft performance.

Most of the delays subsystems were the landing gears, doors, cabin, fuel and flight controls.

Then the control chart (P-Chart) showed the defected delays points fall out the upper control limit, which found three months need to put into consideration for evaluation and investigation.

Then the application of the fishbone depended on the problems faced through the application of Pareto chart and P-chart tools.

The proposed model applied in year 2017 and showed an increase in the technical OTP to reach 96.01% compared with 94.87 % in year 2016.

The A330 fleet utilization increased by 60.6% and the total revenue departure cycle increased by 51%.

The paper, also, pointed out recommendations and suggestions to the company to sustain its competitive advantages in the airlines business market.