Aircraft Maintenance Management to Unanticipated Failure Events

ABSTRACT: Concerto is Realization"s Commercial Off the Shelf software currently used on aircraft maintenance at all three Air Logistics Complex"s (ALC) as well as the software maintenance at WR-ALC. We intend to demonstrate that Concerto has the ability to dynamically re-plan depot level maintenance and provide a detailed software demonstration with a simulation of a depot maintenance activity and the dynamic re-planning capabilities of Concerto. Concerto has three TOC/CCPM based algorithms that form the core of the software. They are the Concerto Critical Chain Buffering algorithm which allows users to create aggressive project plans with strategically placed time buffers, the Concerto Pipelining algorithm which allows users to control the release of projects into execution based on capacity constraints or work-in-process levels, and the Concerto Buffer Management algorithm which computes the impact of delays on buffers providing synchronized priorities for all resources and early warning signals to all managers. We will demonstrate how Concerto schedules, controls, and optimizes depot maintenance activities and then re-plans activities in the event of unscheduled maintenance actions. Concerto is currently used by over 200 customers, mostly commercial entities. In our demonstration we will discuss the benefits that our commercial customers have achieved from this product. BENEFIT: If this project is successful it is possible for the Air Force Material Command, Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) to standardize maintenance planning, scheduling, and execution using CCPM methodology and Concerto software across the Command. The significance of this project is that it will provide proof that Concerto is a tool that can be used to dynamically re-plan maintenance schedules giving senior managers at the ALCs a tool to make decisions regarding resource allocations and impact of schedule changes. The impact of schedule changes can be further relayed to the most senior level decision makers and Combatant Commanders on the impact across the Air Force enterprise in the event of significant changes to aircraft, engine, and component maintenance. In addition, to depot level maintenance, Concerto and CCPM methodology can be utilized in aircraft and equipment field level maintenance. Concerto and CCPM methodology can be easily exported to these types of maintenance activities and can thus institutionalize maintenance management using the Concerto tool and CCPM methodology across the entire USAF. In doing so, maintenance managers will have the same ability to plan maintenance, execute the maintenance schedule, and re-plan schedules when maintenance issues occur using the same tool and methodology at both the field and depot levels. Maintenance managers can more easily transfer from a field level position to a depot level position since maintenance management will utilize the same tool and methodology. Concerto is currently used by over 200 customers, mostly commercial entities. This project could increase the visability of Concerto and CCPM methodology thus increasing the number of companies utilizing Concerto, CCPM, and the ability to re-plan projects faster.