Aviation industry is full of exciting possibilities not only for pilots and engineers, but also people in more universal fields, like management, sales and quality assurance. Gintare Lapienyte who works as the Head of Quality at JET MS, a global provider of base and line maintenance services for business and regional aircraft, talks about the importance of quality and assurance in aviation, her experiences in the field and the industry itself.
The functions of Head of Quality in MRO Company
Gintare Lapienyte explained that as the Head of Quality in the aviation industry, she has a lot of various responsibilities. “My main task, as a Head of Quality Department, is to ensure the implementation of independent quality systems in the company. I can say that the most important part of my job is to make sure that the organisation complies with the EASA Part-145 requirements. Compliance is monitored through audits, which help to assess areas for improvement. I am also a contact person who liaises with Lithuanian and other countries’ national Authorities. Last but not least, I have to assess the qualifications of the staff according to their positions and make sure that they receive the necessary training.”
Importance of attention to detail
“To succeed as a Head of Quality, you have to pay a lot of attention to details and be a good listener,” said Gintare. “There are a lot of intricate tasks that require deep understanding of the procedures and overseeing organisations’ requirements.
I organise my daily activities by prioritising. The main priority is for tasks what are important for airworthiness. Also, if my colleagues have some questions or issues during maintenance, I will be there. And the rest of the time is planned for audits, reviewing of documentation and consultations.”
Quality assurance requires teamwork
While from a glance it might seem that quality assurance is a solitary occupation, in reality, there’s a lot of teamwork involved. “Only by working with a great team you can achieve your personal goals. Mutual trust is very important in our team. Aviation is a field where dishonesty can lead to disasters, so I appreciate that our company is open and honest.”
