The 2nd Maintenance Squadron’s Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL) at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier, Louisiana, calibrates and maintains an inventory of more than 6,700 pieces of equipment for Team Barksdale. With countless tools and test equipment used by ground crews every day, one shop is responsible for maintaining the standard of accuracy and calibration of the equipment.

By ensuring the most accurate tools and equipment at Barksdale, the PMEL streamlines workflow and saves the Air Force money by having one centralized location on base.

“Having the PMEL here saves everyone’s work center from having to ship equipment to a manufacturer or commercial lab,” says Ken West, PMEL site manager. “Otherwise, they’d have to ship their [equipment], pay that individual, and have it sent back. There would also be transportation costs.”

Although the PMEL is cutting costs for the Air Force, the lab wouldn’t be effective unless it kept track of thousands of pieces of equipment and paid careful attention to detail.

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