Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Integrating Maintenance and Sustainment Program Requirements through an Asset’s Lifecycle

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for Integrating Maintenance and Sustainment Program Requirements through an Asset’s Lifecycle

NCMS Project #: 140848

Problem: Similar to many commercial companies, the AF logistics and engineering communities lack a standardized and integrated method of accessing PLI, managing configuration control of said PLI, synchronizing changes among PLI, and sharing the PLI with downstream consumers (e.g., maintenance, planning). This results in unplanned, manual intervention of limited manpower resources on activities to create, maintain, and update product information before use.

Benefit: Through a standardized approach to engineering and logistics, and specifically PLM, industry will benefit by having a defined set of product data deliverables (PLI) for merchandise and other goods produced. The public benefits when industry’s cost reduction translates into reduced prices for goods and services. The Air Force will benefit by having a defined set of PLI for each product made instead of a loose set of requirements for delivering product data for each weapon system.

Solution/Approach: The objective of this initiative is to use the AF PLM-CI as a surrogate to industry to improve maintenance and sustainment support thus reducing operational costs and for the military, increasing warfighter readiness.

Impact on Warfighter:

  • Reduced maintenance burden
  • Touch labor reductions
  • Reduce spares and consumable parts

DoD Participation:

  • U.S. Air Force PLM-CI Integrated Program Office (IPO)
  • U.S. Air Force Ground Based Strategic Deterrence (GBSD) Program Office

Industry Participation:

  • Siemens
  • NCMS

Technology Focus Area(s):

  • Cost savings
  • Maintenance management improvement
  • Improved readiness