B767-300 and 300 ER
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
There seems to be confusion and/or a grey area on when an Out of Service (OTS) Work-package is expected to be generated. A B767-300 aircraft arrived at ZZZ on Day X; November 2014 and assigned overnight Periodic Service (PS). PS released the following day (Day Y). On Day Z (one day later) aircraft item generated with Hydraulic leak.  Aircraft [again] was OTS early evening and Returned to Service (RTS) early the following morning. There was no OTS Work Package generated; it appears it might have been necessary.Reference in Procedures Manual (PM): PM XX-1.B: that all aircraft that cannot be assigned a trip must be 'OTS' until corrected. PM YY-K.2.c; seems to imply all OTS events require a Bill of Work (BOW) Work package.PM YY-1.G.1 indicates only one BOW; either OTS or Scheduled Check. PM ZZ-1.G.7. states all OTS Work Packages need Release (Can't find where all OTS do not require BOW OTS Work Package)Spoke with Quality Assurance (Q/A) Manager; who provided several instances when the BOW/Work Package is definitely required (as this one per PM BB-3.A.4; I believe; indicates was required to have an OTS package; which it did not have). He also stated that every OTS event does not require an OTS Work Package.I believe having multiple sets of expectations; based upon unknown variables at that time; sets up Maintenance to fail; and will produce predictable non-compliances; like in this instance. I asked five Lead Mechanics and not one could definitely say whether and when a BOW/OTS Work Package is required; even after reviewing the Procedures Manual (PM).  Set a simple; clear AND consistent procedure for when the OTS Work-Package will be issued. [Recommend] in the absence of a scheduled check that ALL 'aircraft that are disabled which cannot be assigned a trip' (verbiage excerpted from PM XX-1.B.) require an OTS BOW and Work Package regardless of expected OTS duration. Dayshift. Gate location.
An Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) reports there seems to be confusion about when a Bill of Work (BOW) and an Out of Service (OTS) Work-package should be generated for aircraft that are disabled; cannot be assigned a trip and do not have a scheduled Check. AMT references several of their Air Carrier Procedural Manual (PM) Chapters that support the BOW/ OTS Work-package requirement and the Non-compliance that resulted from not being issued.