Question

Developing a List of Activities for Baggage Handling at an Airport

As part of a continuous improvement program, you have been asked to determine the activities involved in the baggage-handling process of a major airline at one of the airline’s hubs. Prior to conducting observations and interviews, you decide that a list of possible activities would help you to better observe key activities and ask meaningful questions.

Required
For incoming aircraft only, develop a sequential list of baggage-handling activities. Your list should contain between 8 and 10 activities.

Listed below are 8 baggage-handling activities in random order. Put the activities in sequential order by selecting the appropriate number using the drop-down answer options under the "Step" column.

(Step 6 is completed as an example)

Load aircraft
Move baggage to baggage sorting area
Unload aircraft
6 Accumulate baggage for each outgoing flight
Move baggage to outgoing aircraft
Move baggage for which hub is final destination to baggage claim area
Open cargo hatch
Sort baggage by outgoing flight numbers and/or destination

Answer 1

1. Open cargo hatch

• When the plane arrives, it will need to be unloaded so the first thing to do is open the cargo hatch to have access to cargo area.

2. Unload aircraft

• After gaining access to the cargo area, unload the aircraft.

3. Move baggage to baggage sorting area

• The baggage should then be moved to a place where it can be sorted.

4. Move baggage for which hub is final destination to baggage claim area

• If this is the final destination for the baggage then it should be moved to the baggage claim area

5. Sort baggage by outgoing flight numbers and/or destination

• When it is time for the outgoing flights, sort them according to which flights they will be going on.

6. Accumulate baggage for each outgoing flight

• After sorting them, accumulate them and prepare them to be transported to the plane they are to go to.

7. Move baggage to outgoing aircraft

• After accumulating them, transport them to the plane that they are to go with.

8. Load aircraft

• After transporting them then load the aircraft.