Developers Meet Maintainers for Operations Immersion

  • Published
  • By Joshua Gradaille

As the Air Force approaches the implementation of a Single Maintenance Information System, the Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Enterprise Logistics Systems Division, brought a team of software programmers, analysts, and program managers to the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla. and 445th Maintenance Group, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

This visit provided the BES team with a close-up look at the operational side of the Air Force.

For many team members, it was their first exposure to flightline operations. The Enterprise Logistics Systems team had the opportunity to meet maintainers and observe how the maintenance information systems they develop, and support are used in daily operations.

 The team received direct feedback from the maintainers and engaged in meaningful discussions, providing both sides a greater appreciation for the role and function of each other. Currently, the Air Force is transitioning production maintenance records from the Integrated Maintenance Data System (IMDS) to real time database, G081, now known as Field Maintenance Command and Control (FMxC2). This move will consolidate records into a single maintenance data repository, providing a unified enterprise resource for maintenance data across all weapons systems and Major Commands.

The Enterprise Logistics Systems portfolio currently includes 43 programs, supported by 700 military, civil service, and contractor personnel located in Alabama and Ohio.

With an annual budget of $270 million, the organization acquires, modernizes, operates, and sustains business information technology systems for the Air Force and the Department of Defense.