Total life cycle management - assessment tool an exploratory analysis

Abstract

It is essential for the Marine Corps to ensure the successful supply, movement and maintenance of an armed force in peacetime and combat. Integral to an effective, long-term logistics plan is the ability to accurately forecast future requirements to sustain materiel readiness. Total Life Cycle Management Assessment Tool (TLCM-AT) is a simulation tool combining operations, maintenance, and logistics. This exploratory analysis gives insight into the factors used by TLCM-AT beyond the tool s embedded analytical utilities. A Java program is developed to automate multiple changes to TLCM-AT s database, execute simulation runs and record output data. A scenario deploying LAV-25 vehicles to a tropical region, with three courses of action, provides the basis for analysis. The research provides a description of the analysis available by TLCM-AT as a stand-alone tool, and concludes with how design of experiments (DOE) expands insights gained. This thesis provides a framework for using DOE with TLCM-AT, identifies a structured use of TLCM-AT for decision makers, and provides enhancements that enable more effective use of TLCM-AT. Results indicate no practical change in operational availability (Ao) when varying five factors, using 129 design points and 15,480 replications. The factors adjusted are: spares, depot capacity, induction quantity, part repair time and part degradation time. Results also reveal synergies between the modeled factors and numbers of spares to be the dominant factor Ao.