Advanced Technologies for Logistics Support

KBSI is working with CH-47 SFL stakeholders to gather data and define the GTW support framework required for mission-driven material requirements definition and maintenance strategy analysis. The SFL theory of operation is centered on a value delivery system that includes an integrated set of processes based on metrics shared by the stakeholders. The processes are designed to drive collaboration among all of the functional groups involved, to maximize the value delivered to the soldier, and to minimize the cost of providing that value. Utilizing the IDEF methods, data mining tools, and knowledge engineering expertise, the Cargo team is defining the systems, processes, and key metrics for the SFL process. The GTW framework provides an analysis and decision impact assessment technology that drives continuous system improvement, increases overall fleet performance, and institutes better management practices within the SFL process.

The framework includes a discrete event simulation engine--the GTW Simulator--that allows the Army to assess the Go-To-War impact of alternative material provisioning options, alternative mission plans/scenarios, based on current aircraft status and configuration (pulled directly from the Cargo Platform Maintenance Environment). That is, for example, given a fixed parts budget allocated to purchasing a specified quantity and mix of CH-47 parts, Army decision-makers can determine, via simulation, the ability of the part purchases to support anticipated operational flying requirements and non-flying hour demand (e.g., depot overhaul requirements). Alternatively, given a specified mission profile, decision makers can determine the support requirements and impact on other operations. Currently under development is the capability for assessing soldier maintenance workload impact.

The simulation results can be viewed in the GTW Simulator or, for closer analysis, in the GTW Analysis and Planning support (GAP) tool. Users can analyze trade-offs in fleet maintenance and sustainment policiesæfor example, the merits of investing in new parts versus expending additional manpower in the repair of old onesæby modifying supply actions for the parts in question, changing target dates, suspending select maintenance actions, removing maintenance actions, or creating new maintenance actions. GAP allows users to save different trade-off configurations as individual M&O Release/ Buy Plans for testing against the original mission scenario. To test a proposed plan, users can load the original mission scenario in the GTW Simulator and execute it under the proposed support strategy. The GTW simulator will run the scenario against the new Buy Plan contingencies and display the simulation results.

Innovative Solutions

The ATL GTW capability assessment technology differs from similar tools in its ability to characterize capability over time under dynamically changing operational, sustainment, and supply chain conditions--a dramatic improvement to the static readiness measures that have been used in the past. As an integrated framework supporting simulation, trade-off analysis, data-mining analytics, and optimization, the ATL GTW tool provides a more expanded analysis capability than has been possible before æ providing forward visibility and planning support that accounts for the dynamics of multiple ongoing operational and supply support activities. This technology will help the Army meet their benchmarks for 90% operational availability and a 20% reduction in total ownership costs.