Operational Efficiency in Air Traffic Control: How Process Automation Transforms Military Workflows

This article examines the role of process automation in improving operational efficiency within military air traffic control environments. Drawing on real-world experience in a Brazilian Air Force unit, the study analyzes the transformation of a manual financial processing workflow into an automated system, resulting in a significant reduction in execution time from approximately fifteen days to three hours. The analysis explores how automation can enhance accuracy, consistency, and transparency while maintaining full compliance with institutional and regulatory standards. It also highlights the importance of integrating technical expertise with operational understanding in high-responsibility environments, where reliability and decision-making precision are critical. By connecting practical implementation with established concepts in human factors and systems engineering, the article demonstrates that automation, when properly aligned with institutional requirements, functions not only as a technological improvement but as a strategic tool for strengthening operational performance and organizational effectiveness.