Business Case Analysis for the versatile depot automated test station used in the USAF Warner Robins Air Logistics Center maintenance depot

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to perform an extended Business Case Analysis (BCA) of the Versatile Depot Automated Test Station (VDATS). The VDATS is a test station that implements the concept of the Agile Rapid Global Combat Support (ARGCS) by being an interoperable open architecture Automated Test Station (ATS) that can replace numerous legacy systems in a single (possibly joint) environment. This paper develops a BCA through (1) consideration of the overall management of ATSs in the United States Air Force (USAF), (2) development of an Enterprise Architecture (EA) for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center depot, and, (3) presenting an economic analysis to assess the potential for savings if the AF were to adopt VDATS in the Warner Robins Air Logistic Depot (WR-ALC). We conclude there is a strong business case for VDATS as a common ATS in the WR-ALC and a further study should be performed to analyze potential savings at the other two AF depots.