effort. Together with the administration division, the quality assurance/analysis division, the analysis section, and material control, production control provides the maintenance officer with a complete picture of the maintenance situation as it exists at any given time, and makes recommendations for improvement.

Material Control

The functions of the material control work center of intermediate maintenance activities are closely related to those previously discussed under the organizational-level maintenance activities. Since intermediate activities do not have custody of aircraft, their material control work center has no responsibility for aircraft inventory and inventory record maintenance.

The material control work center coordinates and controls the supply functions of the department. It acts as a liaison between the department and the local supply activity, and it processes all supply and material transactions for the other divisions of the department. This work center requisitions material, maintains the material control register, maintains inventories of materials on hand, maintains records of accountable items held by the department, maintains records of all material transactions, and accounts for the expenditure of funds by the department. It furnishes technical advice and information to the local supply activity concerning material requirements for the assigned workload.

The material control work center of intermediate maintenance activities has an aeronautical material screening unit (AMSU). AMSU coordinates the screening of received materials and parts to determine the status and repair responsibility/ capability.

Production Divisions

The standard organization framework for intermediate maintenance activities provides for six production divisions. (See note 1 on fig. 1-2.) These production divisions are generally manned by personnel of the same rating, in contrast to organizational maintenance departments where personnel of more than one rating are grouped into fewer divisions. The type of work usually performed by an individual is the same regardless of the maintenance level at which a person is working; that is, ADs work on engines and related equipment, AEs on instruments and electrical equipment, and ATs work on avionics equipment. The difference between work performed in production divisions at various maintenance levels lies in the depth of maintenance performed.

Production divisions provide intermediate maintenance on aircraft components and equipment for the supported activities. Some of the more important responsibilities and functions of these divisions are described in the following paragraphs.

POWER PLANTS. - The power plants division is manned by Aviation Machinist's Mates (ADs) who perform maintenance on power plants, power plant components, and associated systems.

AIRFRAMES. - Aviation Structural Mechanics (AMs) are assigned to work centers in the airframes division. This division is responsible for the specified level of maintenance of the airframe and structural components; movable structures and surfaces including their hydraulic and pneumatic control and actuating systems and mechanisms; air-conditioning, pressurization, visual improvement, oxygen, and other utility systems; and seat and canopy ejection systems and components.

AVIONICS. - The avionics division is manned with the appropriate combination of the following ratings to provide maintenance of avionics equipment for the supported activities.

The Aviation Electrician's Mates (AEs) maintain aircraft electrical and instrument systems.

The Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) performs preventive and corrective maintenance on aviation electronic components supported by conventional and automatic test equipment, including repair of weapon replaceable assemblies (WRA) and shop replaceable assemblies (SRA). The AT also performs microminiature (2M) component repair and performs test equipment qualification and associated test bench preventive and corrective maintenance.

AVIATORS' EQUIPMENT. - Aircrew Survival Equipmentmen (PRs) are assigned to the aviators equipments division. This division is responsible for intermediate maintenance in connection with parachutes, life rafts, life vests, pressure suits, oxygen masks, emergency equipment kits, flight clothing, oxygen regulators, automatic parachute actuators, aviators' protective helmets, etc. Aviation Structural Mechanic E (AME) personnel may also be assigned to this division for upkeep and support of the oxygen