Teamwork

I was at the dentist recently. I had a couple of procedures that were long overdue — a filling and a crown. These couldn’t be accomplished the same day, so I had to come back for a second day of work.

When I returned for the second day for the crown, I began to notice how well the dentist and the dental assistant worked together. I joked with them that they appeared from my perspective sitting in the chair that they were a “Two-Headed Beast” that needed very little verbal communication to know what the other was thinking and what the other needed. When I started focusing on how well they worked together (which also helped take my mind off the dental work) I was quite impressed. Although much of their teamwork skills appeared to be from doing the same procedure over and over, there was quite a bit of room for decision-making based on varying situations. The result of this synergy that was taking place between the dentist and the assistant was extreme efficiency. Procedures that I remember taking an hour or two in the past were accomplished by these two in just over 30 minutes!

I began to wonder what such efficiency would look like in the maintenance hangar. Perhaps an assistant for us that would have the tool we need ready to lay in our hand as we finish each task. There wouldn’t even be a need to take our eyes off the project. Mechanic - “1/2 inch six-point socket,” Assistant – “Got it, here you go.” Mechanic – “Torque?” Assistant, “75 inch-lbs.” Mechanic – “Check. Safety Wire?” Assistant places pre-cut length of safety wire and pliers in the mechanic’s hand.

Ok – so I’m getting a bit carried away! We don’t need the level of teamwork that applies to a medical procedure. After all, it’s not too often that we operate in tight quarters and need 100 percent focused attention.

Or do we?

Granted – airplanes are quite different than people. The need for efficiency during a medical procedure – where a patient can only hold their mouth open for a limited time, or be under an anesthetic for so long – doesn’t really exist when working on an airplane. But to a lesser degree, there is usually some sort of time limit or deadline that mechanics who are working on airplanes are up against. If nothing else, improving efficiency can mean lowering the cost of performing

Perhaps we don’t move to this exact mechanic/assistant scenario, but are there aspects of teamwork in the medical field that perhaps we can transfer or apply to the maintenance facility? For example, do we always clearly define who the Lead is on a particular procedure? When I observed my dentist and her assistant performing at their maximum efficiency, it was quite clear that one led and the other followed. Just like dancers, football players, or any team activity, there is always someone leading and someone following!

Or perhaps just defining everyone’s role more clearly would be an improvement? How many maintenance facilities approach maintenance by assigning mechanics by the job – instead of assembling teams to accomplish a task? I recall working in maintenance facilities with many other mechanics. I would sometimes go the entire day without actually talking to any of the other mechanics!

There are certainly maintenance facilities that have adapted a team approach to maintenance, but I believe it’s more common to take the individual approach. Let’s face it, it’s our nature to be somewhat introverted and focused on our task at hand. Ironically, this actually is what makes us good at our job!

So what do you do at your facility? Is there discussion about “team building” at your facility, or are individual tasks assigned to each mechanic? Let me know about how your company approaches the team concept. We’d like to hear from you.

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Thanks for reading.

Greg Napert, Proud to be an A&P