Warranted Handtools for Transportation Vehicle Maintenance,
Abstract
HQ USAF/LET (Air Force Transportation) tasked the AFLMC (Logistics Management Center) to initiate a project to determine the cost effectiveness of procuring long-term warranted handtools to help eliminate reported problems with deficient, poor quality tools in vehicle maintenance. A previous LMC study proved warranted handtools for aircraft maintenance was economically beneficial. Vehicle mechanics claimed their tools had the same problem: a high breakage rate due to poor design, weak metal, or plastic parts; loss of productivity, time, and effectiveness when tools break, and ultimately reduced morale. This study evaluatied GSA tool failure rates at 12 selected bases in 6 MAJCOMS. Data was collected over a 6-month period beginning December 1984. The field evaluation measured tool failures and losses for 309 selected high-use tools in vehicle maintenance. We then performed an analysis to determine if the use of warranted tools in vehicle maintenance would result in an economic savings to the Air Force. The conclusion of the evaluation revealed a 3.3 percent breakage rate for GSA tools compared to the 25 percent rate found in the aircraft maintenance study. At a 4 to 1 cost ratio of warranted tools to GSA tools, the cost comparison payback rate for the 3.3 percent breakage in vehicle maintenance exceeds 30 years compared to 3.8 year payback found for aircraft maintenance. Thus, breakage rates and ultimate cost savings to the Air Force do not justify purchasing warranted handtools for vehicle maintenance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA163462
Entities
People
- Gale Jarnagin
- Kathleen R. Dalton