METEOR: a tool for evaluating multi-echelon inventory models and material readiness

Abstract

There are many multi-echelon inventory models in use within the Department of Defense. These models have been used primarily to determine inventory levels at various echelons of supply for complex, -multi-indentured, hardware systems. Their objective is, generally, to maximize some measure of equipment readiness, subject to budgetary constraints. These models vary in their structure, assumptions, mathematical objectives, and optimization procedures. This thesis examines the characteristics of these models and offers an alternative simulation model, Multi-Echelon Technique for Evaluating Operational Readiness (METEOR), which can be used as a common framework from which to compare and evaluate the analytic models. In the examination of ether simulation models used by the Wavy, it is believed that METEOR is unique in its ability to accomplish this purpose. METEOR nay also be used to evaluate the impact cf changes in supply related policy on equipment readiness.