Electronic Maintenance Requirements Determination
Overview
The eMRD Tool has been developed by Logistic Engineering Services (LES) to simplify the application of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) Maintenance Requirements Determination (MRD) process.
The eMRD Tool can be installed as a Standalone application or installed to a network to allow multiple users. The eMRD application provides the ability to manage each user access rights to Administrator, Manager or User levels.
The primary difference between eMRD and other LSAR applications is the ability of the analyst to view an LCN/ALC by its Physical and Functional structure while simultaneously viewing its associated LSA configuration and data elements. The Tool enables the analyst to maintain a clear perspective of what he is looking at from a top down view.
The eMRD Tool is used to develop new or manage an existing LSAR. The development of a new LSAR can be accomplished by manually developing the LCN structure, or by electronically importing a text document. An existing MIL-STD-1388-2B LSAR can be freely imported and exported.
For In-Service use, eMRD has the ability to import a CAMM2 Failure Data file that is automatically sorted to enable the viewing of failure data for an LCN/ALC.
eMRD Functionality
Fully compatible electronic Import & Export functionality with:
- MIL-STD-1388-2B DOD Requirements for a Logistic Support Analysis Record.
- DI(AF) AAP5102.003 MIL-STD-1388-1A/2B & ADF Unique Requirements.
- DEF(AUST)5692 Logistic Support Analysis Requirements for the Australian Defence Organisation
Note that while eMRD is fully compliant with the data interchange requirements of the above standards, the application has been optimised for the MRD process and therefore the user is not exposed to all data fields through the user interface.
While not officially certified by Commonwealth agencies, LES has on many occasions conducted import and export activities between OmegaPS and eMRD.
The work processes within eMRD conform to the following standards:
- MIL-STD-1629 Failure Modes Effects & Criticality Analysis
- MIL-STD-2173 Reliability Centred Maintenance.
- DI(AF) AAP7001.038 (AM1) Maintenance Requirements Determination Manual (incorporating DI(AF) AAP7001.031 Technical Maintenance Plan and DI(AF) AAP7001.064 Servicing Schedule Manual).
eMRD produces a range of standard ADF reports in addition to a number eMRD specific reports to assist with LSAR and data validation.
eMRD produces an ADF compatible Part 2, 3 & 4 of the Technical Maintenance Plan (TMP) and an individual or complete Planned Servicing Schedule (PSS). An additional function is the ability to produce or view an LCN or LCN and children specific TMP pages only to enable the analyst to verify the input of data or task changes.
Provides electronic sorting of the task library and supports task packaging by utilising a Drag & Drop functionality.
Another Success Story Facilitated by eMRD
AF/A-18F Super Hornet Weapon System Database
Overview
On 06 Nov 06, the Australian Government directed Defence to develop options to de-risk the transition from the current Australian Defence Force (ADF) Air Combat Capability to the New Air Combat Capability (NACC) being acquired by Project Air 6000. To achieve this, Defence established Project AIR 5349 to acquire a Bridging Air Combat Capability (BACC) for the ADF.
ASHPO sought to acquire 24 Boeing F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets, through Foreign Military Sales (FMS), new from the Boeing assembly line along with the associated systems, weapons, training equipment and support infrastructure necessary to meet this capability requirement and sustain the System. LES was contracted to conduct elements of the LSA program with ASHPO to support the capability in-service, tasks included the:
- development of the AF/A-18F Super Hornet Weapon System Database (WSDB) from the USN Logistic Support Analysis Record (LSAR); and
- seeding of the CAMM2 maintenance management system with aircraft configuration and asset data.
Achievement
In seven months during 2009, LES successfully completed the conversion of the USN F/A-18F LSAR and development of the RAAF AF/A-18F WSDB, on schedule and within budget. LES also assisted ASHPO to complete CAMM2 seeding ahead of schedule and on budget. These two key activities allowed ASHPO to meet its sporty schedule of introducing the capability into service by March 2010.
Recognition
The joint efforts of ASHPO and LES were recognised in the Australian Defence Magazine award of the Essington Lewis Trophy for Excellence in Collaboration between the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) in 2009, which was also supported by two other related awards (see Awards page). These achievements were facilitated to a large part by the use of the eMRD application.
eMRD
LES used its proprietary in-house application eMRD to convert the USN LSAR data from a MIL-STD-1388-2B compliant database structure into a DEF(AUST)5692 compliant WSDB structure, this entailed a total rebuild of both Functional and Physical LCN structures, to satisfy the RAAF unique requirements of the standard and to allow the production of the RAAF Australian Air Publications Technical Maintenance Plan and Planned Servicing Schedules. The eMRD application facilitated the rapid development of the WSDB, whilst enforcing and maintaining the DEF(AUST)5692 business rules, which enabled the successful export of WSDB data from eMRD for import into the Commonwealth’s LSAR management application and for seeding the CAMM2 maintenance management application.
Further Development
LES is currently in the process of enhancing eMRD and other supporting Logistic Support Analysis applications.
Another Success Story - Caribou MRD
Logistic Engineering Services Completes Caribou Maintenance Review
Overview
The Caribou has seen continuous service with the RAAF since its introduction into service in 1964 and provides the medium lift capability for the Australian Defence Forces (ADF). Caribou Project AIR 5190 Phase 1A was initiated to review the logistic support for the Caribou fleet to enable the DHC4 Caribou aircraft to effectively continue in service until 2010. Part of this project included a review of the content, frequency, depth and packaging of scheduled maintenance tasks for Caribou aircraft and the development of a Contingency Maintenance Plan for the Air Lift System Program Office (ALSPO) at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW.
Achievement
Logistic Engineering Services Pty Ltd (LES) successfully completed the Maintenance Requirements Determination (MRD) review of the DHC4 Caribou aircraft on time and on budget. The review has rationalised the maintenance effort required in support of Australia's workhorse airlift capability and has provided significant cost savings to the Commonwealth; by identifying, and justifying a 55% reduction to the aircraft's existing preventive maintenance burden at Operational Maintenance level.
eMRD
Developed in-house by LES, e-MRD is a specialised software tool that enables an innovative approach which conforms to the Commonwealth MRD requirements and enforces its methodology, ensuring that safety issues related to the extended life of the aircraft were captured and integrated in the maintenance regime. This innovative approach coupled with the maintenance packaging functionality of e-MRD enabled LES to develop maintenance policy, with built-in flexibility for remote deployments and periods of contingency.
Maintenance policy and configuration changes were entered into Computer Aided Maintenance Management (CAMM2) along with an electronic update of the Planned Servicing Schedule (PSS) data and a direct export to the Caribou Weapon System Database, both generated automatically by e-MRD. The review has enabled the Commonwealth to maximise the availability of Caribou for its remaining service life.
Further Development
LES continues to develop and provide innovative maintenance systems in support of Defence and civil industry.