An optimization-based decision support model for the Navy H-60 helicopter preventive maintenance program

Abstract : For Naval aircraft, the largest portion of Operating and Support (O&S) costs is consumed by maintenance. The effort to reduce O&S costs is part of a Naval Air Systems Command initiative termed Affordable Readiness. Innovative programs are being implemented under Affordable Readiness to maintain safety, sustain readiness, and reduce costs. One program, Integrated Maintenance Concept (IMC), is being developed for the Navy H-60 helicopter. IMC calls for depot-level artisans to be collocated at each squadron facility rather than at a central facility. Integrating appropriate organizational level maintenance tasks with germane subsets of the depot level tasks is the essence of the H-60 IMC. Reduced aircraft maintenance costs and out-of-service time are the major benefits of IMC. As part of the transition to IMC, current organizational, intermediate and depot maintenance requirements are being reviewed for applicability and effectiveness. The result of this review will be a new listing of justified preventive maintenance tasks. The tasks will then be grouped into admissible maintenance evolutions that attempt to minimize total aircraft out-of-service time. This thesis explores the potential synergism inherent to certain preventive maintenance task groupings that can lead to an overall reduction in aircraft out-of-service time. A prototypic optimization-based decision support model is developed. The solution presented is in terms of total cost in hours to perform all required tasks over a given time horizon. Additionally, the optimal task groupings are identified. Together, these results are insightful for developing a preventive maintenance program.