The Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) that Prague-based ABS Jets implemented last year into its maintenance processes has yielded results: after months of testing on the pilot project, ABS Jets has reported a 25 per cent reduction in ground time when compared against 96 months of standard ground time.

In mid-2018, the company decided to implement the CCPM in order to increase the efficiency of its maintenance processes. The core principle of the methodology is in the management of performance checks on the aircraft, focusing on daily job card distribution, staff redeployment, tooling enhancement and supply chain improvement.

ABS Jets started by analysing all the current work processes and dividing all the steps into micro work packages. These packages were then recorded into the CCPM software to create the 'chain' of specific activities that occur during the C-Check, identifying the critical path. Making these changes helped the company to achieve continuity between individual steps, eliminating collisions and reducing ground time for the C-Check by 25 per cent.

“When we implemented this project, we set up some internal goals that we wanted to achieve, and I am proud that the hard work of all our team members has resulted in such great outcomes,” states technical director Thierry Barre. “Not only have we managed to reduce the C-Check time but CCPM has also shown a positive impact on safety and quality.”

ABS Jets is a business jet operator with bases at Prague and Bratislava airports, offering a range of services which include aircraft maintenance, aircraft management, CAMO, ground handling, flight planning, charter and brokerage and travel management. The company is also an authorised service centre for Embraer, to whom it provides global AOG and warranty support as well as support for scheduled maintenance.