AFSO 21 -- LRS merging to save time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Air Force Smart Operations is quickly spreading throughout the Air Force and the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron is no exception. They have found a way to save the most valuable thing many Airmen have ... time.

The 39th LRS vehicle operations merged with vehicle maintenance. Now everything government-vehicle related is located in one area cutting down the average time personnel spend with vehicle-related issues by 20 minutes.

"The merger put operator licensing, vehicle inspections and vehicle dispatch all in the same building," said Brian Harris, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron maintenance and management chief. "It also put the vehicle operations supervisor and superintendent in the same building with the vehicle maintenance supervisor and superintendent."

Before, if a customer had multiple vehicle issues such as getting a government license and checking the status of a vehicle in maintenance, they would have to go to one building, inquire about the vehicle in maintenance than walk to another building to get the license.

The merger also does wonders for training and communication said Mr. Harris.

"The merger got vehicle operations and vehicle maintenance communicating with each other," said Mr. Harris. "With the merger, everyone knows how to do everyone else's job."
If a customer needs a vehicle, anyone at the customer service window can help. Before the merger, if the vehicle dispatch person was out to lunch or unavailable the customer would have to wait or come back at another time when they were available.

The vehicle operations and vehicle maintenance personnel alike are enjoying the initiative.

"The merger has been working perfectly," said Senol Sayilkan, 39th LRS transportation supervisor. "Customers no longer have to go out of their way to get information. It is all available to them in this one area."

On the maintenance side of the house, the interaction between the two sides is what is most important.

"Now that we [vehicle operators and vehicle maintainers] are located in the same building we can make it easier for the customer," said Dave Zinn, 39th LRS maintenance supervisor. "We know what's going on with the operator side. We know who's coming in and what they need, that way, if the operators need a vehicle we can put a rush on a maintenance order to get one out to them."

With the 39th LRS vehicle merger, customers are saving the one thing they need the most ... time.