Kitting

Tinker B-52 mechanic John Darrough looks at bomber air conditioning and cooling components for the cockpit and avionics area, all together in a prototype kit he designed. In his spare time, Mr. Darrough designed the trailer, taking the new B-52 kitting concepts he’d seen and liked and modifying it for the larger parts. Using the new kit trailer has been a time-saving improvement. “I instantly know what I need to work on next,” he said. Because every part has a specific place, the process flows faster, even if more than one mechanic works the area. “Other mechanics can pick up the work without missing a beat,” he said. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)

B-52 mechanic takes initiative

Published Aug. 8, 2011
By Maisha T. Young
76th Maintenance Wing Transformation Office

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Producing kits for the aircraft is quickly becoming the standard for the mechanics in B-52 Bombers.

John Darrough has 22 years of aircraft experience under his belt, but for the last two years he has worked as a maintenance technician on the B-52 air conditioning and equipment cooling components for the cockpit and avionics area. He is always looking for a way to improve his work environment.

When John Stavinoha, B-52 Kitting Supervisor walked by and noticed a wagon full of unorganized parts, piled one on top of the other, he asked Mr. Darrough "is there anything we can do with this cart?"

Mr. Darrough was ready for the task.

With support from his supervisor, Scott Own, Mr. Darrough started creating the Dock 1, Area 5 trailer kit last April. Supplied with a team, and focused on a way to organize the parts, his group began with researching part numbers, tracking what parts went where and which parts were used consecutively. Then foam was cut to hold each item and laid within a two sided trailer in the exact order that the mechanic would use them to provide maintenance for the aircraft cooling components. It took approximately two weeks to build this kit, but it saves time and increases efficiency in assembling the parts needed for the maintenance on this area of the B-52.

"The kit makes working so much easier. We are able to get the aircraft out faster cutting our maintenance time to four days instead of two and half weeks," Mr. Darrough said.
"One of the reasons we feel kitting is really hitting its stride is because folks like Mr. Darrough are coming forward and saying, 'I want a kit for my area'," said Connie Davis, 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron deputy director.

When the other mechanics saw the trailer kit he had created for Area 5, they requested their own. All four docks now have a trailer kitted for their area, and Mr. Darrough is looking forward to perfecting the kit.

He accredited his kitting success to his supervisor, the man who trained him, the crew he works with, and the team put together to assist him with the kit.

"The crew picked up the slack while I worked on the kit," he said. His supervisor supported the time needed to prepare, set-up and figure out how he wanted to proceed with his kit.

"I really appreciated everyone else's help and without John Stavinoha we would have never got it done," he said.

According to Mr. Darrough he enjoys doing his job and he challenges himself daily to see how fast and accurately he can complete his task. Kitting the trailer has helped him do a better job, faster.