Phase II: Analysis of Material Handling, Storage, Transportation and Identification In Support Of Building 3705, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma – OU03-ALC

This project's purpose is to create a layout for the storage of large assets at a company's storage facility and to analyze different approaches for the material handling and storage of the horizontal and vertical assemblies of a company.

Sponsor:

Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center

Research Team:

Mary Court, Robert Winters, Donald Craft, Randel Bowman, David Baldwin, Jennifer Pittman, Mustafa Pulat

Universities Involved:

University of Oklahoma

Start Date:

06/01/03

End Date:

05/30/04

Summary:

This project creates a bi-level layout for the storage of large assets at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center storage facility Building 3705 to reduce storage space, and performs a study on storage facility support analyzing material handling of different assets such as Air Blades and Cargo Nets.
Reverse logistics processes, including aerospace maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO) operations, are taking steps toward compliance with world-class standards (e.g., ISO 9002). This project is motivated by a case study of a Member MRO process. In December 2000, ISO registration initiatives mandated that the Member organization change a long-standing practice of outside storage and handling of materials, by relocating large aircraft components into a centralized staging facility. This warehouse is a multi-tenant facility with multiple points of receipt, issue and storage of WIP components and extensive use of manual documentation of material movement, requisition and transactions. Phase I study documented current supply chain activities, flow patterns and resources to develop an enhanced material handling and distribution activity. The research problem in Phase II of this project focuses on checking/validating the plans developed in Phase I, and prioritizing the validated resource improvement plan for Phase III research.
Recommendations for improving the space utilization in B3705 include solutions for improved floor space use by providing dedicated parking spaces for custom, trailers, making significant additions to rack shelving space, and integrating storage and maintenance activities for large flight control structures.
The recommended layout solutions require no changes to current warehouse operating procedures, equipment or IT interfaces. These recommendations can be implemented on a “piece part” basis.
Material handling concepts proposed for the large flight control surfaces make more efficient, vertical use of the floor space, however this will require significant changes to maintenance operations.