The management of "time pressure" on aircraft inspection and maintenance crews in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Time pressure is believed to be an important factor in the aerospace industry because it can affect the inspection and maintenance processes. If it is handled properly, the industry can benefit, otherwise it is known to trigger performance shaping factors which are linked to the poor use of standards and procedures; and can have a negative impact on the personality and behavioural patterns of the individual workers. Therefore time pressure has been seen as an intangible force that cannot be left unmanaged else it could impact on the safety of the aircraft maintenance processes regardless of how well equipped the workshops could be. This research was aimed at application of time pressure in the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). It has identified the problems associated with the motivation of the workers who are handling the time pressure work. It has shown that currently the workers are performing because of the official positions of the sources of the time pressure; however, they are displeased about the handling of the time pressure related work. Even though the teams are well trained and well vest in safety measures, there is a lack of coordination between departments and systems; leaving them overly exposed to potential dangers of complacency and fatigue in the workforce. There is a clear understanding that management are not aware of the bigger picture that is associated with the time pressure. Management do not link time pressure to other possible factors that are shaping the performance of the workers.
The research concludes that workers have a clear view about handling time pressure in the process of aircraft maintenance, however, they have difficulties in pin-pointing the clear way forward to resolving them because the difficulties are interlinked with the management structure and decision making hierarchy of the organisation.