Special skills, not normally possessed by production personnel, are required of a staff trained in the technique of data analysis and supervision of the quality assurance/analysis division program.

The quality assurance program provides a systematic and efficient method for gathering, analyzing, and maintaining information on the quality characteristics of products and on the source and nature of defects and their immediate impact on the current operation. The program permits decisions to be based on facts rather than intuition or memory, Also, the quality assurance program provides comparative data, which will be useful long after a particular event has occurred.

Quality assurance is a staff function that requires both authority and assumption of responsibility for actions. Its objective is to readily pinpoint problem areas in which management can improve the quality, uniformity, and reliability of the total maintenance effort; eliminate unnecessary man-hour and dollar expenditures; improve the training, work habits, and procedures of maintenance personnel; increase the excellence and value of reports and correspondence originated by the activity; effectively disseminate pertinent technical information; establish realistic material and equipment requirements in support of the maintenance effort; and effectively support the safety and quality deficiency reporting program.

The quality assurance/analysis division consists of a relatively small group of highly skilled maintenance personnel. Their working spaces are located near the production divisions and the maintenance control officer. The quality assurance organization is composed of the following three functional areas.

1. Quality management. This function is that of formulating, implementing, and auditing procedures, instructions, and operations to assure compliance with the governing instructions on quality assurance.

2. Quality verification. This function ensures that all materials processed by the maintenance department meet the prescribed quality requirements.

3. Technical publications. This function ensures the technical publications library (TPL) is operated in support of assigned aeronautical equipment according to the maintenance level of responsibility involved.

As an AZ, you will be interested in the primary functions performed by the quality assurance/ analysis division of an organizational maintenance activity. These functions are as follows:

Review all incoming technical publications and directives to determine their application to quality assurance.

Prepare or assist in the preparation of maintenance instructions to ensure that proper direction and emphasis are given to implementing the quality assurance plan.

Maintain the central TPL for the department, including letter-type technical directives. Control classified technical publications for the department. Ensure that each division and/or branch receives all publications applicable to its work area, and that these publications are kept current and complete. (Chapter 3 of this manual contains a detailed discussion of the TPL.)

Ensure that all work guides, checkoff lists, check sheets, maintenance requirements cards, etc., used to define or control maintenance operations are complete and current before issuing.

Review all engineering investigation requests, quality deficiency, technical publication deficiency, hazardous material, and explosive mishap reports to ensure they are accurate, clear, concise, and comprehensive before mailing.

Perform work center and special audits on technical publications.

Review and note unnecessary and/or recurring discrepancies requiring special action.

Ensure that the configuration of aircraft and components is such that all essential modifications have been incorporated.

The quality assurance/analysis division provides sound and sufficient analytical information to the maintenance officer to enable a continual review of management practices within the organization. A quality assurance/analysis division is established in each aircraft organization to monitor, control, and apply the maintenance data system (MDS) within that activity. This division serves as a contact point between the