Condition-Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) is an excellent approach to effectively utilizing accumulated information and multi-department knowledge to produce an integrated system-wide actionable process for improving systems and increasing the performance of maintenance functions. Capitalizing on the use of private industry best practices and technologies, Army maintenance has been engaged in fully implementing CBM Plus for eight years and the concept has successfully proven to increase equipment availability and reduce total operational costs.
The Department of Defense expanded CBM in 2002 to CBM Plus when it was realized that to improve availability of equipment would necessitate broadening the view of maintenance as more than a stand- alone operation. In 2003, Army Aviation was named as one of the 16 focus areas for the Army and a goal for full implementation of CBM+ by 2015 was established. The goal was restated in 2006 and Army Aviation began conversion to condition based maintenance focusing on implementation of modularity construct, reducing the aviation logistics tail and improving the availability of aircraft.
Implementing CBM+ forces Army maintenance to transition from using a reactive approach toward using a proactive methodology. Accomplishing the change requires the insertion or embedding of sensors and technology into equipment to provide real time or near-real time information of equipment status. The embedded technology will provide data to analytical and diagnostic equipment that calculates trends and metrics. The technology uses the information to predict when component failures will occur considering equipment usage. Voluminous data is required to develop the algorithms required for this process.
CBM+ has had a profound effect in achieving the stated goals. The technology provides advance notice of equipment needing service and the information can be forwarded to maintenance. When aircraft is brought for maintenance, down time is reduced since parts will have been ordered in advance. Scheduled repairs are expedited since many aircraft systems no longer require physical assessments. The forward-thinking multi-departmental concept has created an improved army aviation logistics team.
Army maintenance has taken great strides in implementing CBM+ and the University of South Carolina (USC) has been provided grants to support the Army aviation’s aircraft maintenance program. The university’s research in monitoring systems, technology, analysis and forecasting has demonstrated that improved products and a productive maintenance program enhance safety, equipment availability/capability and financial efficiency.
The Army aviation action group is answering the challenge of integrating key units into one focused operating force. Administrative, logistics, engineering, information systems and manufacturing need to learn a common language in order to effectively communicate with each other. Communication and ideas should flow to and from all levels. Consideration must be given to avoiding data over load by narrowing the selection of metrics to those that will provide needed information. Army aviation has a difficult task to complete and the approach they are taking is credible.