Production Planning and Control

Production Planning and Control
key role in planning and scheduling

the heart of the maintenance and engineering (M&E) organiza-
tion. The PP&C organization is primarily responsible for planning
and scheduling all aircraft maintenance activity within the airline.
The goals of PP&C are (a) to maximize the M&E contribution to the
airline; (b) to plan and organize work prior to execution; and (c) to
adjust plans and schedules to meet changing requirements.
PP&C also tracks any loaned or borrowed parts from other airlines
or repair vendors in the airline’s fleet. Once the part becomes
available, it is PP&C’s responsibility to make sure that the borrowed
part is replaced and sent back to the other airline or vendor with
serviceable paperwork, which indicates time used and service time
available.
PP&C Organization
The planning work can be done by a centralized or decentralized
PP&C group.
the centralized group, all functions—forecasting, planning, and
control—are done within the organization, with liaisons to the work
centers during actual performance of work.
decentralized organization, the forecasting and planning would be
done by PP&C, and the control would be done by personnel in the
hangar or other work centers. all the planning and control is done
by each work center.
The M&E organization is normally led by the vice president of
maintenance and engineering. The production planning and control
department typically reports to the VP of M&E. The PP&C
department is normally overseen by a manager, followed by the
maintenance planner, and longrange planner.
Manager, PP&C
The PP&C manager is normally responsible for the planning
department and its functions. This includes making sure that all
assigned maintenance and inspection planning activities are
accomplished according to the airline’s policy, and FAR’s and the
company’s required maintenance programs. The PP&C manager
must have the cross-functional ability to work with other
departments within the airline’s organization; plan, coordinate, and
route aircraft to maintenance bases in a timely manner; and take
appropriate and necessary action which may affect the airline’s daily
operation.
Maintenance planner, PP&C

Maintenance planners are assigned to different maintenance bases,
One maintenance planner can track two to three different
maintenance bases and is normally the contact for maintenance
bases for planning schedules.
primary function is to develop all scheduled work and/or work
scope needed for all line maintenance and hangar maintenance
aircraft. It is the maintenance planner’s duty to track and monitor
the completion of all planned work assigned to a maintenance base
and the aircraft. The maintenance planner coordinates the aircraft
routing to the maintenance base and also coordinates with the
stores department about any logistics required for maintenance
planning.
Long-range planner, PP&C

The long-range planner does both short-term and long-term
planning and forecasting of aircraft maintenance, which consists of
“C” check and main base visit checks, structural repair (fatigue,
crack, corrosion), painting, lease return, retirement, and any
upcoming airworthiness directives (AD).
The long-range planner designs the work plan, ascertains logistic
availability, and decides which facility can best perform repair and
modification due to its capability and the aircraft’s location. If
needed, the long-range planner relocates the aircraft to a facility for
required maintenance and ensures that all work is completed
according to the company’s policy and manual and that the AD is
credited for work per- formed satisfactorily.
The Production Planning & Control Department’s Function

PP&C actually has three functions: forecasting, planning, and
control.
Forecasting activities include estimating maintenance workload for
the existing fleet, creat- ing business plans, and being aware of any
changes in the forecast period.
Planning involves scheduling upcoming maintenance, and includes
planning and scheduling details (manpower, parts, facility) and
timeframe requirements for such maintenance: less than “A” check
items, daily items, 48-hour checks, and letter checks. These plans
would include incorporation of SBs, fleet campaign directives
(FCDs), SLs, and ADs, as well as other maintenance tasks, such as
engine changes, fuel nozzle changes, gear changes, and generator
changes deemed necessary by
the airlines.
During the actual performance of maintenance, many things occur
that require altering the plan.
The control function allows for adjustments to the plan and keeps
(or attempts to keep) a check on schedule. There are several
methods of adjusting the plan, including deferral of maintenance to
a later check, addition of personnel to com- plete the work, or
outsourcing the work to a contractor. Feedback from a check allows
PP&C to adjust the planning effort for future checks.
“Plan your work and work your plan.”
Forecasting
Forecasting is concerned with the future workload of the M&E
organization. The PP&C department is responsible for reviewing
and providing upcoming maintenance on the aircraft fleet. This
requires workload planning, goal setting, implementing, and
monitoring. It must also take into account the routine and
nonroutine maintenance requirements, as well as planned changes
in future operations relative to maintenance. Any changes in fleet
size, routine structure, facilities, manpower, or skill requirements are
tracked. Future plans may also accommodate the aging and
replacement of equipment, corrosion prevention control program,
addition of new equipment, modification of equipment, and the
upcoming ADs and SBs.
The forecast function ensures that M&E and PP&C are up to date
on these changes and ready to adjust their processes and proce-
dures accordingly. Forecasts are usually made for the long and short
term The long-term forecast would be for 5 to 10 years. Short-term
forecasts are more detailed and usually cover 1 to 2 years. These
forecasts contain more definitive plans with attention to actual
manpower and budget numbers. forecasting is long range and
general
Production Planning
The goal of M&E is to deliver airworthy vehicles to the flight
department in time to meet the flight schedule, with all
maintenance activities completed or properly deferred.
is the planning of that work with the stated goals in mind.
Production planning involves the planning of all maintenance
activities: daily, 48-hour, and transit checks; letter checks; and
modifications due to airworthiness directives, service bulletins,
service letters, and engineering orders. It also involves the planning
and scheduling of all aspects of these checks, including manpower,
parts, supplies, and facilities. Coordination with flight operations
and with ground handling and support activities is also included in
the planning effort.

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Production Planning and Control

key role in planning and scheduling

Maintenance planner, PP&C

Long-range planner, PP&C

The Production Planning & Control Department’s Function

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