National Center for Manufacturing Sciences News and Views from the World of Manufacturing
July 2012 Welcome to The CTMA Connector, a monthly newsletter designed to provide news and ideas about the Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities (CTMA) program. The CTMA program is a joint Department of Defense/National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (DoD/NCMS) effort promoting collaborative technology development between industry and the DoD maintenance and repair facilities. This newsletter highlights ongoing projects, serves as a forum for promoting new project ideas, and provides other news of interest to the program. Our goal is to stimulate your participation and solicit your input. Feel free to submit items for the newsletter as well as any suggestions to make it more useful. More information about the program can be found at http://ctma.ncms.org/.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the CTMA Connector, send a message to: listserv@listserv.ncms.org with “subscribe CTMANewsletter” or “unsubscribe CTMANewsletter” in the message body.
We welcome the following organizations into NCMS:
KALO, LLC
KALO, LLC is a DoD marketing & technical consulting company that provides subject matter expertise in laboratory projects, contracting, program management, logistics support, requirements generation, ITAR, SOCOM, G-2 ISR, etc…
MacroUSA Corp. specializes in Unmanned Systems, MOUT Systems, and Safety, Surveillance and Inspection Systems with a vision to approach each project with creativity, revolutionary designs and cutting edge engineering. With efforts aimed at creating superior, more compact, and cost effective products than what is currently available.
New CTMA Project Opportunities:
Coalition Logistics Interoperability
Traditional execution of maintenance and logistical support is focused on supportability as a standalone service with some interaction at the DoD joint level. Typical of this strategy is a significant redundancy of parts stocks, consumable inventory, and maintenance capability, commonly referred to as the “Iron Mountain”. Ironically a significant number of repair and support items are common across the spectrum of Warfighters. Unfortunately, to date there does not exist a simple means to share and support common items in a joint or coalition environment. Significant cost in terms of transport, sustainment, support and redeployment is incurred by the different cooperating elements without consideration of economies of scale for sharable support items that could be obtained. In an era of limited resources, leveraging common capabilities to execute operations is a desired end state.
The objectives of this work is to become compliant with DoD/Service policy, leverage IUID data, reduce maintenance costs, reduce supply costs, improve TLCSM, and gain Joint/Coalition interoperability. The NCMS contact is Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org.
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Warfighter Maintenance and Implementation and Operations Support
Operations in OIF and current operations in OEF have identified several deficiencies in Material Management, Equipment Accountability/ Visibility, Distribution Visibility and Material Readiness. In addition, records tracking of maintenance activities has also been insufficient. These deficiencies have had a negative impact on the DoD’s ability to sustain current warfighter material requirements and capabilities. These deficiencies will continue during the retrograde from Afghanistan [ Service R4 (Reset, Reconstitution, Right-Size, Re-Focus (R4)).
The purpose of this project is to improve asset maintenance and readiness by increasing asset visibility – with a focus on equipment maintenance status and condition for the warfighter. The goal is to address timely maintenance, increase the efficient allocation of maintenance resources (people, processes and tools) necessary to increase the overall readiness posture of critical weapons systems. This will be accomplished by conducting a fit gap and requirements analysis resulting in a draft Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) focused on improved maintenance operations. The ICD will then enable the application of the doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel and facilities (DOTMLPF) process. The NCMS contact is Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org.
Master Data Repository (MDR) Proof of Concept (PoC)/Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) and Data Storage & Utilization Strategy
The tremendous amount of logistics data created as a result of recent operations currently resides in the MDR/LIW has data quality issues, is inefficiently organized and is at risk of being lost due to a lack of a data strategy. The Marine Corps Master Data Repository/Logistics Information Warehouse (MDR/LIW) storage servers are at maximum capacity because all data is being kept with no storage or retrieval strategy, purpose or planned replacement. This data is necessary to conduct ongoing sustainment and Depot level repair, additionally the data is used to affect acquisition decision, improve warranty decisions and justify O&M budget cycles.
This CTMA initiative will develop and conduct a Proof of Concept, built upon an exhaustive data forensic analysis and coupled with a forward looking capabilities based assessment that will result in the establishment of the Marine Corps Logistics Data Storage and Utilization Strategy. In doing so, this CTMA project will substantially reduce logistics enterprise risk and minimize Marine Corps sustainment costs associated with the loss of tremendous amounts of logistics data currently being stored within the MDR/LIW. Additionally, weapon system reliability and readiness will be improved by better data mining and analysis that will better pinpoint maintenance and repair trends. This CTMA project will also serve as a template for logistics data storage, access, utilization and safeguarding that can be utilized by the entire DoD. The NCMS contact is Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org.
Marine Corps Logistics Portfolio Consolidation Proof of Concept (PoC), Business Case Analysis (BCA) and Demonstration
There are a number of Logistics Portfolio Information Technology (IT) systems and applications developed for use in overseas contingency operations. An analysis of the percentage of operating force usage and subsequent return on investment (ROI) of the current Logistics Portfolio supporting overseas contingency operations has not been conducted. As a result, DC I&L, in his role as the Log Portfolio Manager, has had to rely on anecdotal reports and claims from system program managers to determine the best allocation of resources for the Log Portfolio as well as development of an integration strategy. To date, no detailed and exacting analysis and associated testing/implementation have been accomplished, which results in sub-optimized sustainment of weapon systems, including costs and readiness. This puts the entire Marine Corps Sustainment IT support environment at great risk.
This CTMA initiative will develop and conduct a PoC, demonstration and follow on BCA to determine technology enhancements and best value recommendations for making the 208 tactical and wholesale systems and applications in the logistics portfolio interoperable within the portfolio and with the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Command and Control (C2) Tactical Services Oriented Architecture (TSOA). The NCMS contact is Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org.
Marine Corps Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF) Logistics Support Systems Interoperability Demonstration and Capabilities-Based Assessment CBA)
The Marine Corps invested a great deal of time and resources in fielding the Global Combat Support System-Marine Corps (GCSS-MC). Due to technology limitations, the GCSS-MC solution is not suitable for deployed environment at the tactical edge. Specifically, GCSS-MC has challenges operating in a disconnected, intermittent, low bandwidth, high latency (DIL-H) environment. The MLS2 are currently fielded and providing sustainment support to MAGTFs deployed around the world. However, the lack of integration between the MLS2, GCSS-MC and MAGTF C2 have sub optimized the level of sustainment support the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) of the MAGTF can provide. As a result, sustainment costs and weapon systems readiness are at a sub-optimized level. This CTMA initiative will directly address this sustainment issue.
This CTMA initiative will improve battlefield logistics support and reduce sustainment costs for MAGTFs. The CTMA project will conduct an interoperability demonstration and Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) of the MAGTF Logistics Support Systems (MLS2) that will prove the concept of leveraging Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) to expose capabilities of legacy systems and demonstrate interoperability between systems in a tactical, disconnected intermittent low bandwidth high latency (DIL-H) environment. Additionally, the lessons learned from this demonstration will lead to an approved Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) requirements document and integration strategy. This CTMA project will reduce sustainment costs while improving weapon system readiness. Lessons learned from this project can be used by the other services to achieve similar results. The NCMS contact is Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org.
Marine Corps Distribution IT Portfolio Proof of Concept (PoC) and Business Case Analysis (BCA)
As the Marine Corps continues to affect changes that will enhance the readiness of its equipment, reduce its sustainment costs and increase weapon system readiness and lethality, the enterprise realizes that critical infrastructure changes need to begin. Concurrently the Service is under pressure to adhere to the mandate to move to a Joint Logistics Enterprise environment by the DoD. Many of the components that are pivotal to success in reaching this goal, along with maintenance modernization and equipment readiness, are legacy, unstructured and not integrated. One item of key note is the logistics Information Technology systems that support Marine Corps acquisition, development and maintenance.
This CTMA initiative will address Marine Corps logistics distribution issues that significantly impact sustainment costs and weapon system readiness. To accomplish this, the project will develop, test and analyze a solution that will provide shared visibility without delays across internal organizations and stakeholders based on permissions while sensing exceptions and responding collaboratively and incrementally. This will be conducted by the development of a Notional Logistics Distribution Solution based upon evolving Marine Corps direction, conduct of a PoC followed by a detailed BCA which will justify adoption of the Notional Solution. This development and associated Proof of Concept/analysis will address the Distribution segment of the logistics portfolio upon sustainment, greatly improving weapon system readiness at reduced costs. The NCMS contact is Debbie Lilu, debral@ncms.org.
Heat Induction Removal of Special Hull Treatment (SHT) Using Exoskeleton and zeroG Arm Technology
The removal of SHT (Special Hull Treatment) is a major cost driver in the maintenance, repair, and disposal process of submarines. Shipyard personnel are required to remove large quantities of SHT using archaic techniques that employ hand held tools and chain fall to physically tear off the materials. Currently the disposal program for 688 Class attack submarines is a very difficult task due to the large amount of tile and the large number of submarines that are decommissioned and being recycled. The current method for removal of more than 10,000 tiles per 688 class submarine is the use of reciprocating saw with one mechanic operating the saw, while another pulls the corner of a the tile with vise grips to give enough room for the blade to slice the back side of the tile. The process leaves tile remnants, adhesive, and paint residue that must be removed with a small chipping gun. These processes causes hand, wrist, and arm fatigue in a very short time period. Over years, the accumulative effects and injury on personnel increases dramatically typically resulting in surgery of the shoulders or other area of the body affected by repetitive exposure.
This CTMA project will utilize the heat induction process with exoskeleton and zeroG technology to achieve safe and efficient removal of SHT and MIP in a manner suitable for a shipyard dry dock environment and operable with only moderate training. The NCMS contact is Dana Ellis, danae@ncms.org.
HUSKY Route Clearance Vehicle Front/Rear Modules
Current operations in Afghanistan require the use of the Husky route clearance vehicle to ensure safe travel of military and civilian personnel throughout the region. The Husky vehicle is the main vehicle used in route clearance operations in identifying and locating IDE threats. Currently route clearance missions are being reduced due to the lack of front and rear modules in theater to repair and maintain the fleet. This CTMA project would test the design and sustainment of these modules through a pilot deployment in theater. The NCMS contact is Chuck Ryan, chuckr@ncms.org.
