Performance-based logistics for aerospace and defense programs

• US 20080126171A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Newton, Charles P., Baldwin, Sherman, West, David P., Garrow, Gary R., Wetzer, Michael, Weir, Patrick E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change

Abstract

This invention relates to an automated method and system for forming and implementing a performance-based logistic contract through managing the maintenance an item of equipment in accordance with a maintenance plan. Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for maintaining an item of equipment supports the provision of predictive maintenance in a manner which eliminates or reduces downtime of the equipment. The method includes tracking performance data on the equipment or a particular component of the equipment. At least one required maintenance activity is predicted based upon the performance data with respect to a defined performance standard. Performance of the required maintenance activity is scheduled at a defined respective time based upon the prediction.

Claims

1. A performance-based logistics contracting system comprising:

an input system for defining contractual requirements comprising product data;

a maintenance system comprising;

a communication interface operable to receive;

component data from a supplier data source, said component data corresponding to said product data;

operational data from an equipment sensor; and

worker qualifications data from a human resources system;

memory storing the component data, operational data, and the worker qualifications data;

a configuration monitor operable to determine a configuration maintenance requirement when an equipment configuration is out-of-date;

a predictive maintenance controller coupled to the memory and comprising;

a timer;

a scheduler receiving time data, duration data, or both from the timer; and

a maintenance module coupled to the scheduler and comprising a financial analyzer and a longevity estimator, a probability of failure predictor, or both;

where the predictive maintenance controller is operable to determine a predictive maintenance plan based on the component data, worker qualifications data, the operational data, and a predictive maintenance factor;

a resource planner operable to plan for availability of a component for performing maintenance consistent with the configuration maintenance requirement and operable to coordinate the configuration maintenance requirement and the predictive maintenance plan into a combined maintenance schedule for both the configuration maintenance requirement and the predictive maintenance plan; and

where the communication interface is further operable to transmit the combined maintenance schedule;

to a project personnel management system; and

to a purchasing and inventory control system.

2. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, where the predictive maintenance controller comprises at least the longevity estimator, and where the predictive maintenance factor is a longevity estimate.

3. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, where the predictive maintenance controller comprises at least the probability of failure predictor, and where the predictive maintenance factor is a probability of failure estimate.

4. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, where the resource planner is further operable to plan for the availability of the component at a geographic location.

5. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, further comprising an allocation intermediary coupled to the communication interface and the scheduler.

6. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, where the memory comprises:

a first database comprising the component data and operational data;

a second database comprising the worker qualifications data; and

a third database comprising planned maintenance data.

7. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, where the financial analyzer is operable to provide a cost estimate for the combined maintenance schedule.

8. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 7, where the memory comprises a first database comprising repair data and parts list data.

9. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 7, where the memory comprises a first database comprising geography definition data and planned work geography definition data.

10. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 6, further comprising a fourth database comprising maintenance history data.

11. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, further comprising an equipment maintenance worker terminal coupled to the project personnel management system through a communication network.

12. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 1, further comprising a supplier order fulfillment center coupled to the purchasing and inventory control system through a communication network.

13. A performance-based logistics contracting method comprising:

defining contractual requirements comprising product data;

receiving component data corresponding to said product data from a supplier data source, operational data from an equipment sensor, and worker qualifications data from a human resources system over a communication interface;

storing the component data, the operational data, and the worker qualifications data in a memory;

determining a configuration maintenance requirement when an equipment configuration is out-of-date;

using a financial analyzer and a longevity estimator, a probability of failure predictor, or both in conjunction with a timer and a scheduler to determine a predictive maintenance plan based on the component data, the worker qualifications data, the operational data, and a predictive maintenance factor;

planning for availability of a component for performing maintenance consistent with the configuration maintenance requirement;

coordinating the configuration maintenance requirement and the predictive maintenance plan into a combined maintenance schedule for both the configuration maintenance requirement and the predictive maintenance plan; and

transmitting the combined maintenance schedule through the communication interface to a project personnel management system and to a purchasing and inventory control system.

14. The method of claim 13, where using comprises:

using at least the longevity estimator, and where the predictive maintenance factor is a longevity estimate.

15. The method of claim 13, where using comprises:

using at least the probability of failure predictor, and where the predictive maintenance factor is a probability of failure estimate.

16. The method of claim 13, where planning comprises:

planning for the availability of the component at a geographic location.

17. The method of claim 13, where storing comprises:

storing the component data and operational data in a first database, storing the worker qualifications data in a second database; and

further comprising storing planned maintenance data in a third database.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing maintenance history data in a fourth database, the maintenance history comprising historical configuration data and historical planned maintenance data.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing repair data and parts list data in a first database, and storing historical resource data in a second database.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising searching the memory for worker qualifications and availability.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising allocating maintenance personnel to perform the combined maintenance schedule based on simultaneous availability of the component and the maintenance personnel.

22. The method of claim 13, where transmitting comprises:

transmitting through the project personnel management system to an equipment maintenance worker terminal.

23. The method of claim 13, where transmitting comprises:

transmitting through the purchasing and inventory control system to a supplier order fulfillment center.

24. A performance-based logistics contracting system comprising:

an input system for defining contractual requirements comprising product data;

means for receiving component data corresponding to said product data from a supplier data source, operational data from an equipment sensor, and worker qualifications data from a human resources system over a communication interface;

means for determining a configuration maintenance requirement when an equipment configuration is out-of-date;

means for determining a predictive maintenance plan based on the component data, the worker qualifications data, the operational data, and a predictive maintenance factor using a financial analyzer and a longevity estimator, a probability of failure predictor, or both in conjunction with a timer and a scheduler;

means for planning for availability of a component for performing maintenance consistent with the configuration maintenance requirement;

means for coordinating the configuration maintenance requirement and the predictive maintenance plan into a combined maintenance schedule for both the configuration maintenance requirement and the predictive maintenance plan; and

means for transmitting the combined maintenance schedule through the communication interface to a project personnel management system and to a purchasing and inventory control system.

25. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 25, where the means for determining uses at least the longevity estimator, and where the predictive maintenance factor is a longevity estimate for an equipment component.

26. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 25, where the means for determining uses at least the probability of failure predictor, and where the predictive maintenance factor is a probability of failure estimate.

27. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 25, where the means for transmitting further transmits the combined maintenance schedule to an equipment maintenance worker terminal.

28. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 25, where the means for transmitting further transmits the combined maintenance schedule to a supplier order fulfillment center.

29. The performance-based logistics contracting system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for storing the component data and operational data; and

means for storing the worker qualifications data.