Centralised engineering
Centralised engineering is clearly not the flavour of the month with the PPRUNE community, but in my opinion it does have one distinct advantage. I have experienced the JEngO-constantly-being-roasted-by-the-Sqn-Boss-for-not-meeting-the-task scenario, and quickly realised the Boss had little or no interest in or understanding of the day to day engineering task, and the problems and difficulties inherent. To a nervous 22 year old Fg Off JEngO, the potentially irresistable temptation after a couple of months of this is to allow aircraft to fly as long as it still has 2 wings visibly attached, in the knowledge that they "probably" won't fall off.
With centralised engineering, the JEngO, in theory, is only subject to anger from his SEngO, who, again in theory, will understand what the JEngOs are faced with. This way, the JEngO only gets the heavy pressure when he is being lazy/incompetent, not when it's just being one of those days that all engineers will recognise.
Without going into much detail, a while ago there was a textbook example of a serious aircraft incident where groundcrew being under pressure was a significant factor, although this time not from the Sqn Boss. (blow-down bottle - anyone recognise it - read the report).
The trouble it seems at Lyneham is no-one at the top of Eng Wg can give a stuff about the task, and no-one outside Eng Wg can give a stuff about engineering (I'm told the Stn Cdr is pretty conspicuous by his absence within this fiasco). The only message getting through to STC/DLO is the official OC Eng Wg "It's working a treat" message, which going by some of what is shown on these pages may not be the case. Mind you, the programme has been pretty light of late, but it looks like you're meeting it guys.
I don't expect you to commit suicide by posting here, but I would be fascinated to hear what Lyneham's SEngOs, JEngOs, WOs and FSs have to say about all this.
The necessity for general tightening of belts within defence logistics certainly did not arise from OC Eng at Lyneham nor indeed any other Stn. Each Eng organisation throughout the RAF has been told what to expect and left to deal with it in the best way they see fit. In the run-up to recent defence cuts, it was interesting to note there were no loud voices trying to maintain the level of manpower RAF engineering requires to operate effectively and efficiently.
A number of people have been accused of implementing various schemes "only to get them promoted". I'm sure they would argue that they ARE trying to get promoted, but they are working toward promotion by doing what is right and implementing schemes that will contribute to effectiveness and so on.
More and more in recent times senior engineering Officers have found that no recognition is awarded for doing a fantastic job of running whatever Sqn/Wg/IPT you are in charge of. Recognition (often in the form of promotion) comes from saving a substantial amount of money (often with little regard to the wider effect), or implementing a really exciting re-organisation (the more radical the better) and shouting about it to the world.
Interestingly, I believe Lyneham's OC Eng Wg was in Las Vegas the day her scheme started, telling the USAF how well her scheme had been working. Also, did anyone spot the article "Lyneham Rolls Out Lean Machine" in RAF News in November? Apparently this scheme was working a treat well in advance of its 6 December start date.
It seems the Lyneham re-organisation was conducted by the few and ignored the many. Old fashioned leadership and management are becoming more scarce in the culture of engineering in today's RAF, and indeed MoD as a whole.
Has OC Eng Wg really never visited her troops out in Basra??!!?