Cleared for takeoff Lean recommendations could streamline approvals required for flight testing

摘要

Simple process improvement tools can uncover significant lean process improvements in complex military systems. This was the conclusion drawn by two students and their faculty advisors at the Air Force Institute of Technology. They were challenged by a U.S. Air Force research and development organization to help find solutions to repeated and lengthy delays in their flight test approval and return-to-flight processes. The organization already had concluded that the time and effort to obtain test approval and return to flight was too long and complicated. The customer wanted a thorough examination to determine whether this perception was correct and to receive recommendations for improvement.