2009 SMS Pilot Project (SMSPP) Analysis - FAA

The MSMS team received over 200 comments from participants at the Challenge Session. The
MSMS team incorporated most of the comments and feedback into the processes and procedures
of the pilot project. Comments received varied across all topics. The team immediately learned
that the feedback and discussions between industry and the FAA proved to be invaluable when
learning and developing SMS guidance and tools.
3-3 Guidance Documents Developed for the Pilot Project
The MSMS team developed five documents to provide supplemental material for the MSMS
team as well as the pilot project participants. The documents include the following:
• The D&M SMS Pilot Project Guide
• D&M SMS Gap Analysis and Implementation Plan Tool (GAIPT)
• Developmental Guidance for Design & Manufacturing (D&M) Safety Management
System (SMS) Framework
• The Design &Manufacturing (D&M) Safety Management System (SMS)
Developmental Guidance
• Integrated Pilot Project Plan (IP3)
All five documents are referenced in Appendix B.
The D&M SMS Pilot Project Guide
The D&M SMS Pilot Project Guide was referred to as simply “The Guide.” The Guide served as
the primary source of information for pilot project participants and FAA entities involved in the
pilot project. The overall purpose of the guide was to:
• Provide D&M organizations with general information on how to begin developing
and implementing an SMS; and
• Assist FAA Participant Management Team (PMT) members in evaluating an
organization’s SMS program and participating in further development of
implementation and oversight strategies.
Specifically, the guide contained information to help ensure that an organization’s SMS will be
capable of:
1. Receiving safety input from internal and external sources and integrating that information
into their operational processes;
2. Establishing and improving organizational safety policy to the highest level;
3. Identifying, analyzing, assessing, controlling, and mitigating safety hazards;
4. Measuring, assuring, and improving safety management at the highest level;
5. Promoting an improved safety culture throughout the entire organization; and
6. Improving efficiency and reducing operational risk.
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