Methods for continuous improvement of fielded jet engine reliability and maintainability

Abstract

This thesis investigates methods for constructing fielded jet engine reliability and maintainability (R&M) baselines, and methods for establishing R&M targets using benchmarking. The procedures developed can be applied with any fielded jet engine. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating the use of the Naval Aviation Logistics Analysis (NALDA) database in conjunction with existing spreadsheet software programs to develop frequency distributions and failure rate functions for selected figures of merit. Comparison of the calculated figures of merit with (1) values specified in the Logistics Analysis Support Record, or (2) a calculated benchmark value, provide analysts and Program Managers with an index of R&M performance. Use of Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) concepts and the Pareto Principle are reviewed as approaches to improving fielded jet engine R&M figures of merit. A cumulative degradation model is presented that can be used to construct maintenance policy. Practical application of the methods and procedures are demonstrated using the General Electric TF-34 engine as a test case.