There are few materials challenges greater than the sustainment and achievement of targeted weapons system availability. The assets are quite complex, subject to extreme stress and environmental conditions with dynamic resupply options. The ability to plan for the demand of parts for scheduled depot maintenance, unscheduled removals, and random part failures requires complex software and specialized data structures. Positioning the parts in the proper locations adds yet another dimension of complexity necessitating the management of fluid multi-echelon networks.
Servigistics’ A&D solution portfolio includes the most sophisticated Availability Based Optimization (ABO) which supports a virtually unlimited number of items, echelons, and levels of indenture. The logic allows mission profiles, their causal attributes such as environmental conditions, and the sustainment infrastructure and its resupply capabilities to define what material is needed when and where. The tactical sustainment process coordinates maintenance schedules and a vast array of forecasting models to develop a comprehensive view of all sources of demand. Supply is planned based upon a “use what you own” philosophy – first looking to replenish or rebalance from stores; then repair, upgrade or overhaul defective or out of revision parts; then cannibalize assets where allowed; and lastly acquire new material.
The result is a holistic model that reconciles supply and demand, with missions and maintenance, resulting in maximum availability at minimum budget. Configurable dashboards and a Service Knowledge module complement the planning with insight into issues and opportunities.
