Leading indicators applied to maintenance in the framework of resilience engineering : A conceptual approach.

Abstract

Abstract. This paper explores the identification of leading indicators in aviation maintenance. Traditionally, improvements in aviation have been based on incident reporting and analyses and learning from failures. This traditional approach measures safety performance based on lagging indicators. However, there is a growing concern that this information does not provide the requisite information and insight to prevent future accidents. Resilience has been identified as the ability of the system to adjust prior, during and after a major mishap. This implies a need to recognize early signals to be able to anticipate and act properly. The objective of the paper is to understand leading indicators and the “why ” behind the leading indicator as basis to look forward in monitoring safety performance. With regard to the leading indicator definition applied to aviation and maintenance in the context of resilience, we focus on learning from success and failures and propose: Leading indicators are precursors based on a model of safety implying a significant possibility of a subsequent event that has an impact on safety and performance. Leading indicators can therefore provide information about changes in risk before traditional risk analyses are able to capture this change. 1