About this Presentation
This presentation describes a case study of the change and challenge in engine maintenance. The history of the airline industry environment with deregulation and high oil prices is discussed. The characteristics of Delta Air Lines and the Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul facility (MRO, Technical Operations) are provided. Customer revenue growth has increased significantly as insourcing growth has been 440% per year for five years. This complex maintenance operation has been simplified using TOC, drum buffer rope (DBR) and Continuous Improvement (CI). The flow and challenges faced and throughput prior to TOC are discussed. A causal loop diagram of the flows and stocks is provided. A macro view of engine disassembly piece part repair and engine assembly is discussed. Critical chain (CC) is used in disassembly and assembly while DBR is used in piece part repair. A summary of changes, lessons learned, and results are provided. A history of continuous improvement included CI teams, high performance workplace, six sigma, lean enterprise, and theory of constraints. TOC concepts have provided a clear understanding of where to apply six sigma and lean methods to achieve true bottom line results. Changes to metrics focus on alignment operations with business goals.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Instructor(s)
Jennifer Eckman
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.