Most aviation companies are now in one way or another either implementing, considering the implementation or have implemented and are now trying to make the Safety Management System work in an effective way.
Taking each element in turn
The first challenge to ensure successful implementation of the SMS concerns the effective provision of resources, both financial and in terms of manpower. Any company who thinks that a real and effective SMS may be implemented by a single person working part time with additional responsibilities (for example Pilot) is probably going to be disappointed as it is again “probable” that the SMS will underperform at best and simply fail at worst.
The second challenge is developing the key ingredients of Safety Management System Operational Documentation (Safety Management System Manual SMSM for example), as well as the necessary training material appropriate for each group of staff together with the Emergency Response Plan.
If you are considering the impending implementation of your organisational SMS you have decisions to make!
Exactly what do we want the SMS to do? Well we can focus on demonstrating compliance with the regulatory requirements, this in itself is challenging because the SMS is a performance based system. But never the less it is possible to implement an SMS which keeps the regulatory happy but does not in itself add very much value to the organisation.
Far better in fact is to consider that our SMS is going to be developed as a management system which we will unashamedly use to drive not just to drive safety but also to drive business efficiency, Such a system may directly support us to develop best practices which reflect a lowered safety risk together with activities which in fact counter loss making behaviours.
Timescales & Gathering Data
The are two distinct activities in this process – the first is development of an Implementation time line and start to finish can typically take 6 to 9 months, the second is the gathering of data from all areas and levels within the organisation. Such data will in fact help us to start to understand where “our” risks and exposures lay.
Sofema Aviation Services currently offers more than 20 Safety Management system related courses including detailed SMS implementation courses which may include detailed workshops specific to the organisation designed to support the initial stages of the optimisation program.
For details please see www.sassofia.com or email office@sassofia.com
