Rapid City Regional Airport Tracks Historical Data Through eMaint to Consistently Meet FAA Inspections

Customer Since: 2009 | Industry: Fleet

Rapid City Regional Airport provides hundreds of commercial flights to seven major U.S. destinations through four major airlines. In 2009, the airport chose eMaint as their CMMS software solution because of its flexibility and customization capabilities. Implementation was a smooth, manageable transition for employees. The airport was benefited in a number of ways, including an archive of procedures for recurring activities ensure work is performed consistently and shortens the learning curve for new technicians.

  • Support FAA Compliance By Providing Documentation

  • Capture Corrective Maintenance And Auto-Generate PMs

  • Reduced Wasted Time By Tracking Work Completion

BACKGROUND

Doug Curry instantly realized the need for a formal CMMS system, as the airport currently was relying on memory and hand-written binders to handle all maintenance activities. Having utilized a CMMS in the Air Force, he knew he needed a system that was fully- featured yet easy to use to ensure adoption by his staff, none of whom had used a system previously. Faced with an annual FAA inspection, Doug needed a simpler and more reliable way to track historical data on compliance with FAA regulations in order to retain status as a commercial airport. The maintenance department also needed a system that could manage work requests from airport tenants including rental car agencies, gift shops, restaurants and the four airlines.

IMPLEMENTATION

eMaint CMMS was chosen by Doug in May, 2009 based on its flexibility, customizable fields, and ease of use. The system also allowed Doug to introduce new features gradually so that training could be done at a manageable pace. Currently, the eMaint system helps generate, assign and close out scheduled and corrective work as well as managing work requests. Rapid City implemented the work request “weblink” which allows tenants and employees to submit a request by clicking a link on their website.

Curry was able to readily enter PM procedures into the system by copying and pasting from the FAA website. PMs are now generated automatically and Shift Chiefs can effortlessly assign open work orders at the start of their shift. Work orders are prioritized by type, allowing safety issues to be addressed first.

BENEFITS

  • With historical data on PMs, work orders, and work requests, Rapid City has the ability to readily provide FAA regulators with documented proof of compliance with PAR 139 standards.
  • Maintenance department has ability to more readily capture and troubleshoot corrective maintenance and ability to auto-generate PMs.
  • Stored procedures for recurring activities ensure work is performed consistently and shortens the learning curve for new technicians.
  • eMaint CMMS reduced time wasted on redundant activities by providing information indicating which jobs were already completed.
  • In the next phase of his implementation, Doug plans to track labor hours, parts and associated costs for better tracking of maintenance spend.

“I am still surprised today why all departments don’t utilize a CMMS since both the ability to capture troubleshooting and corrective maintenance as well as automatically generate PMs is worth the entire system. eMaint had all the features I needed yet was easy for all of my staff to learn “

Doug C., Deputy Airport Director for Facilities and Maintenance, Rapid City Regional Airport