Maintenance cost control at the Pacific Missile Test Center.

Abstract

The Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) is the Navy's largest Major Range and Test Facility Base, with an investment of over one billion dollars. The majority of this investment is in range test equipment and facilities including radar, telemetry, communication and command/ control systems. Concern is growing over the "excessively obsolete condition of PMTC technical equipment." Improvement of factors concerned with the maintenence function is one means of remedying this problem. This thesis investigates methods of controlling maintenance costs over the life of range systems. The theories of life-cycle costing (LCC) and integrated logistic support (ILS) are examined. Difficulties in funding range equipment replacement are reviewed. Methods of controlling maintenance costs are scrutinized. Financial management and financial reporting at PMTC is reviewed. It is concluded that LCC techniques and ILS analysis should be implemented in range equipment design. Furthermore, maintenance management should be given greater latitude in controlling maintenance costs over equipment life.