Eglin's repair program brings big savings

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In a time when government is trying to do more with less, the 46th Maintenance Group's Air Force Repair Enhancement Program has gone even further saving the Air Force millions of dollars.

AFREP is an Air Force-wide program where disposable maintenance parts are reclaimed, refurbished and used in the repair of Air Force items. The program has been active at Eglin for more than 15 years, but has seen its greatest success within the last five years, averaging a savings of $4 million per year.

"We've gone from a savings of thousands to millions in the past few years," said Michael Crawford, the AFREP director.

The cost savings isn't the main factor that makes this program a success. It's the AFREP team's approach and attitude.

Unlike other AFREP programs, the small team of supply managers and lab technicians choose to be proactive by expanding their services globally.

"We recently completed a wire harness for Kunsan Air Force Base," said Steve Littrell, an AFREP technician. "We wired it, rebraided it and will send it off in a couple of weeks."

About four years ago, Crawford and his team looked in the Air Force inventory worldwide to see what other items were out there in need of repair and what organizations could benefit from it.

"We started repairing everything," said Crawford.

AFREP has repaired cables, harness assemblies, hydraulic cylinders, actuators and gauges, to name a few items.

"We haven't just stuck to aircraft repair," said Crawford. "We also see what DRMO has and we'll repair that, too. Anything that's expendable, we try to repair and utilize it."

AFREP personnel not only have a 'can do' attitude, they also have the expertise.

"Our technicians are NASA certified," said Crawford. "They go through intense training every couple of years."

Although the Air Force cannot profit from a repair, the accomplishment comes in recognition.

"We only charge the customer the cost to repair," said Crawford. "The notoriety comes from the MICAPS [Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts] we report weekly."

A MICAP is basically a repair needed right away. The war fighter depends on these repairs to carry out their missions.

Eglin AFREP has become so efficient in turning MICAPs, they are now sought out for the repair.

"What we're able to do in-house in a couple of days may require a contractor a couple of weeks," said Jason Orlowski, an AFREP technician.

With a proactive attitude, teamwork and a emphasis on quality, AFREP has proven to be valuable asset.

"This was management's vision and we're just doing our best to carry out that vision," said Crawford.