Opportunity: An opportunity that the Army’s aviation branch can take advantage of is implementing the new logistics software available to the military. The Unit Level Logistics System-Aviation Enhanced (ULLS-AE) combines all aspects of maintenance, aircraft readiness tracking, and supply into one combined system. One of the major benefits of using ULLS-AE is that all maintenance related forms can be completed at workstations that use the software. This can greatly reduce the time that is otherwise usually needed when maintenance personnel writes in maintenance actions by hand. Furthermore, maintenance personnel can request parts without leaving their work area. Supply personnel, upon receiving the request, can check their inventory and order the part if the inventory is empty. This can all take place within a timespan of a couple minutes. In terms of cost, the software is expensive to have installed but it will be more cost-effective in the long term than continuing to use the various types of software each unit uses. While every aviation unit uses the same software to order supplies, individual units use different software to track aircraft and inventories such as Excel and other third-party software. This can cause parts to be ordered wrong due to using out of date part numbers or returned parts to not receive credit from the manufacturer.
Alternatives: An alternative to using ULLS-AE is to use a cloud-based database to track aircraft and maintenance and order parts. This alternative could use free software such as Excel or paid subscription software such as Microsoft Azure. As a whole, either of these options would be much less expensive to implement into the current system. Each software system would require less user training and could be used on already running computer systems as well. However, both software systems lack many features that ULLS-AE contains. First, maintenance forms and manuals cannot be generated by either software. Maintenance personnel would need to go back to using paper forms. Secondly, requesting parts can prove challenging if the spreadsheets are not regularly updated to reflect changes in inventories. In ULLS-AE, inventories are updated automatically which parts are scanned out of the inventory.
Risks: One of the risks of implementing ULLS-AE is how long the implementation may take. This includes updating computer systems to be able to accept ULLS-AE and train personnel on how to use ULLS-AE. This could hamper ongoing maintenance task and lower readiness rates. Another risk is the cost of purchasing the software and having an I.T. contractor install the software on computers and servers. The high cost associated with setup can put the project on hold because of fiscal budgets that vary from year to year.
Success/Metrics/Timeline: One of the ways the aviation branch can define success is by monitoring the overall readiness rate and seeing if the rate rises. If the rate rises, then maintenance is being completed more efficiently. Secondly, monitoring supply costs would note if the ULLS-AE software is successful. Lower supply costs should express that the right part is being ordered when needed and inventories are being monitored correctly to prevent overstock. These two factors for success can also be used as metrics to determine, through the integration and deployment process, that ULLS-AE is working. Another metric is monitoring whether each unit has fully implemented the software and is properly using it. Lastly, the timeline depends largely on the budget and a survey of compatible computers and operating software at each aviation unit. Due to these aspects, the full rollout of ULLS-AE could take up to two years.