Intermediate-Level Repair Cycle Management: Supply and Maintenance Process Improvements.
Abstract
Supply organizations that directly support personnel who maintain operational weapon systems rely on Intermediate Level (I-Level) maintenance as the major source of resupply for both line replaceable and shop replaceable (LRU and SRU) reparable assemblies. The time that it takes to repair these items once they are removed from the weapon system (or next higher assembly) is called the I-Level repair cycle time (RCT). The length of the RCT has the greatest influence on the inventory investment at the retail level. The longer the RCT, the more serviceable assets the services must stock locally so that, when an unserviceable is removed from a weapon system, a serviceable can be immediately issued. This procedure reduces weapon system downtime. We estimate that the retail inventory investment to support the I-Level RCT pipeline exceeds $1.2 billion. Based upon our observations, we believe that I-Level RCT is longer than it should be. DoD policy forbids including awaiting parts (AWP) time when measuring RCT because the probability of a similar delay occurring each time is low. When AWP is included, inventory requirements increase. Then, when the parts problem is solved and RCT returns to normal, excess inventory exists. Only the Air Force currently excludes AWP time when measuring and using I-Level RCT. Also, any wasted time that exists from the time an item fails to the time it is restored to working condition and placed back on supply shelves adds to RCT and, therefore, needlessly increases inventory requirements. The Military Services can significantly improve I-Level maintenance RCTs through a series of policy and procedural changes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA320301
Entities
People
- Larry Klapper
- Robert Jordan
- William Mcgrath
Organizations
- LMI