Increasing Cost Effective Readiness For The U.S. Air Force By Reducing Supply Chain Variance: Technical Analysis Of Flying Hour Program Variance
Abstract
The U.S. Air Force spends considerable funds to operate and support its aircraft. Between fiscal years (FYs) 1996 and 2011, such spending increased by more than 6 percent a year, limiting what could be spent on other priorities. One way to reduce operation and support costs is to improve the accuracy of demand forecasts. The Air Force spends about $4 billion annually to buy and repair spare parts for aircraft. Demand that runs lower than forecast levels results in excess parts; demand that runs higher results in shortages and reduced readiness. One potential way to improve spare part demand forecasts is to reduce the difference between the number of flying hours that are forecast and the number that are actually flown, which is known as flying hour variance. The Air Force Sustainment Center asked RAND Project AIR FORCE to gauge the potential effect of flying hour variance on cost and readiness, identify the causes of the variance and quantify their effects, and identify policy options to rectify problems identified.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 23, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1058509
Entities
People
- Patrick Mills
- Peter Buryk
- Sarah A. Nowak
Organizations
- RAND Corporation