A Time Study of Scientists & Engineers (S&Es) in the Air Vehicles Directorate

Abstract

The Air Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, concerned that its scientists and engineers (S&Es) were spending more time on nontechnical duties than on technical duties, developed a Web-based means of gathering data on this issue. After almost 27,000 hours, recorded data showed approximately 19 of 40 hours in an average week were spent on technical taskings. This led the directorate to examine various ways of increasing the share of technical time productivity reported by its S&Es. This article highlights the authors' data gathering results and offers insights on increasing the technical and value-added time of S&Es, thereby resulting in increased productivity for AFRL--an important Air Force resource. The Air Vehicles Directorate, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is one of the 10 technology-focused research organizations in the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). We employ approximately 600 people, close to one-third of whom are government scientists and engineers (S&Es), and develop advanced flight vehicle technologies in the areas of aerodynamics, control of flight vehicles, and structural sciences. Our work is analytical, computational, and experimental, accomplished in both in house and external facilities, and involving programs with academia and industry. Although our natural focus is on the long-term future, we also solve shorter-term, more urgent problems for the Air Force. The Air Vehicles Directorate and its predecessor organizations have a long history, and our technologies can be found in practically every major weapon system in today's U.S. Air Force inventory. In response to budget cuts, drives for efficiency, and numerous reforms, the workforce in the Air Vehicles Directorate has declined 16 percent in the last decade. (C. Remillard, personal communication, April 10, 2008). Many of these cuts resulted in the reduction of non-technical personnel, thus often leaving some nontechnical taskings to our S&Es.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA515190

Entities

People

  • Joann Mccabe
  • John Wissler

Organizations

  • Defense Acquisition University

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  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems

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  • Acquisition
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  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
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  • Business Administration
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  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Acquisition
  • Personnel Management
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  • Scientists
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Time Studies

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