A systems approach to U.S. Coast Guard cutter maintenance

Abstract

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has entered a unique period in its history marked by the aging of its legacy cutter fleet, the construction and integration of replacement cutters, tight fiscal constraints and the recent modernization of its logistics support organization. The achievement of maritime missions is dependent on the proper allocation of agency resources across the operation, maintenance and repair of Coast Guard cutters. Interdependencies caused by the shared resources of time, funding and inventory parts create complex interactions between the components that make up the Coast Guard's cutter operations and maintenance system. This thesis uses System Dynamics modeling and simulation techniques to analyze the Coast Guard's cutter operations and maintenance system to identify system constraints, evaluate policy and resource alternatives, and recommend policy changes to improve the operational availability of the fleet. The application of System Dynamics modeling and simulation tools identify several high leverage variables in the operations and maintenance system structure. Small changes to these variables capitalize on the reinforcing feedback mechanisms already present in the system structure to produce significant improvements in the operational availability of the fleet. Maintenance and repair part inventory levels and operational policies governing cutter standby status are identified as key drivers of system performance, and specific recommendations are provided to increase operational patrol hours by up to 15% and decrease cutter casualty hours by up to 25%. Other recommendations include the revision of command performance metrics to drive behaviors that influence these high leverage variables, application of System Dynamics principles to new cutter sustainment strategies, and expansion of the use of real-time operations and engineering data in engineering and scheduling policy decisions.