Title: Lean implementation within South African aircraft maintenance organisations

Authors: Bernadette P. Sunjka; Sean F. Murphy

Addresses: School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ' School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa

Abstract: Globally, the implementation of Lean techniques has proven to be successful in improving quality while reducing turnaround times and costs within aircraft maintenance organisations (AMOs), including those organisations that are of a competitive threat to South African companies. Limited research has been conducted on Lean implementation in South African AMOs, leading to the motivation for this study: to determine the status of Lean implementation within South African AMOs. Quantitative and qualitative data were derived from interviews with senior management from a sample of Gauteng-based organisations. The results provided an indication of both their understanding and the status of Lean within their organisations.

Keywords: lean implementation; aircraft maintenance organisations; AMOs; South Africa; maintenance; repair and overhaul organisations; MRO.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLER.2014.062285

International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research, 2014 Vol.1 No.1, pp.59 - 80

Received: 18 Apr 2013
Accepted: 25 Nov 2013
Published online: 05 Jul 2014 *