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Maintenance group wins silver in Shingo Prize

An electronics maintenance group at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., took silver this year in the Shingo Prize, sometimes called the “Nobel Prize of manufacturing.”

The 402nd Electronics Maintenance Group, which tests and repairs avionics on a variety of military aircraft, was recognized for streamlining its manufacturing processes and improving its safety record.

Airmen trimmed 25 steps in the manufacture of circuit cards, eliminating 10 production hours per job; reduced the number of flow days to produce Digital Automated Test Sets by 61 percent; and reduced the number of safety violations by almost 60 percent.

The group will receive a silver medallion with 20 other private and public organizations May 5 in Nashville, Tenn.

The award, administered by the Utah State University School of Business, is named after industrial engineer Shigeo Shingo, who helped create many aspects of Toyota’s legendary production system.