A Day In My Shoes Supply Style!
By CPL Gabby Knight
Ever wondered what happens on the other side of the fence? What goes on behind the scenes and why things are done a certain way?
SGT Simpson and CPL Knight.
Well, we here at Supply Chain Management Squadron (SCMS) decided to take a leaf from the CAF’s book and initiated our own version of A Day in My Shoes – Supply Style!
The basic intent behind the idea was to open up the lines of communication between us and our biggest ‘customers’ – the Maintenance Flights on each of the flying Squadrons – and try to provide a bit of insight into what each of us was doing and why.
So far, it’s been an enormous success. Both No. 5 and No. 6 Squadrons have taken part and have kindly hosted a SCMS person for a day – showing us around the Squadron, letting us observe engine runs and training sessions on the simulator and walking us through the hangar and the flight line. It’s given us an appreciation of what goes on daily in the hangar and what impact there is on the Squadron when spare parts might not be available immediately. Being present in the hangar also gave the maintainers a chance to bring concerns directly to someone in an informal setting – meaning small problems with easy fixes could be addressed immediately. In turn, No. 5 Squadron lent us CPL Phil Lester, an aircraft technician, who spent a day in SCMS learning the ropes. Maybe not quite as exciting for him as our day on the Squadrons was for us (no simulators in here!) but his day in SCMS gave him an insight into what happens behind the scenes and the processes and effort involved in getting parts on shelves.
Was it worthwhile? Absolutely. The advice that sparked the initiative was given by GPCAPT McEvoy saying ‘people don’t care what you know, until they know that you care’. The experience has improved the perspective on both side of the Logistics fence. The relationship between the supply and technical trades has always been a close one and increasing the level of understanding between the two can only be beneficial. The intention is to continue and expand this idea so, you never know, you could be the next to spend a day here in SCMS. We look forward to seeing you!