A Cost Analysis of the Decision to Cannibalize Major Components of the Navy's H-60 Helicopters at the Operational Level
Abstract
Cannibalization is a technique, sanctioned by the Navy, for maintenance managers to optimize aircraft availability by circumventing a slow or inadequate logistics support system Maintenance managers often make a decision to cannibalize without considering the total cost of their decision This thesis examines the costs incurred by an operational H-6O helicopter squadron to cannibalize major components and addresses the impact of cannibalization on the mean time between failure for the cannibalized components. The costs to cannibalize a T7OO-GE-4O1C engine, a tail rotor blade and an auxiliary power electronic control unit were calculated by assigning a dollar value to the increased manpower, consumables and flight time that could have been avoided if cannibalization were not used. The units cannibalized in 1996 were tracked by serial number through 1999 to compare their mean time between failure to similar non-cannibalized units for the same period The findings were that cannibalization considerably decreases the time between failure for cannibalized components which can have reaching effects on the size and costs of the Navy's inventory of spare parts. The increased manpower, consumables and flight time required has a significant impact on an operational squadron's workforce and budget.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA379704
Entities
People
- Danny E. Kowalski
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School