How Integrated Maintenance & Supply Software Maximizes Asset Availability and Reduces Military MRO Costs

In this Industry Profile, learn why aerospace & defense organizations on five continents rely on GOLDesp MRO & Supply software to keep military equipment operational for the long haul. From aging fighter jets to next-generation missile systems, Tapestry’s GOLDesp provides maintenance managers with the right data, at the right time, to ensure military assets are well-maintained and mission-ready, even in unpredictable combat environments.

THE MRO CHALLENGE

Sustaining complex military assets across land, air, sea and space is more challenging than ever for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) personnel.

With increased deployments, logisticians are under pressure to keep mission-critical equipment operational, despite declining MRO budgets. The challenges are compounded as military equipment becomes more sophisticated, smarter and powerful. Next-generation systems are built with advanced materials, sensor-driven data and connectivity – requiring more proactive maintenance approaches and technical expertise.

At the same time, logisticians continue to struggle with materiel obsolescence issues related to aging equipment. A major issue is obtaining readily available parts for the vast amount of aircraft flying beyond their expected lifecycles. The problem is exacerbated by delays caused by fragmented supply chains and information gaps – and these delays can be costly.

Cannibalization: The Last Resort
Faced with a shortage of spare parts and budget cuts, MRO personnel often resort to the inefficient maintenance practice of cannibalization – a strategy in which serviceable parts are removed from one complex asset to satisfy the operational needs of a higher-priority asset.

Cannibalization may be beneficial on a very limited and controlled basis, but the practice actually decreases readiness, and increases maintenance and supply chain costs. With cannibalization, units risk additional maintenance downtime due to incorrect fault identification and/or faulty repairs, and this creates more supply chain turbulence.

Information Overload
With data-driven warfare, information saturation also poses a major challenge for military MRO personnel. Maintenance managers need access to timely and accurate data to ensure mission success.

Maintaining sophisticated military assets involves millions of moving parts – spares, work orders, analytics – generating massive amounts of data. Without automated processes in place, maintenance and supply chain personnel must manually sort through mounds of data to track and manage assets. This can be a laborious, time-consuming task that affects readiness rates.

THE SOLUTION

To effectively execute their missions, military forces need – and deserve – superior equipment that is well-maintained and mission-ready. They require a comprehensive, maintenance management solution such as GOLDesp MRO & Supply software. The developer is Tapestry Solutions, a Boeing Global Services company that specializes in information management software and services.

The military-grade, enterprise software is designed for aftermarket logistics support and Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) management for aerospace and defense customers worldwide. For over 30 years, GOLDesp has helped organizations efficiently manage the world’s most sophisticated assets that operate in land, air, sea and space environments.

Modular, Enterprise-Level Software
GOLDesp provides total lifecycle support for every major platform, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, armored vehicles, vessels, air defense and space systems.

A commercial off-the-shelf solution, GOLDesp significantly improves maintenance efficiency, increases asset availability and reduces sustainment costs over the total system lifecycle. Built with modular, open architecture, GOLDesp is designed to keep pace with technology as equipment grows in complexity and scale. This allows for enterprise integration and future growth. In addition, GOLDesp features powerful performance metrics and analytics that enable faster, better decisions.With these features and more, GOLDesp has emerged as the leading tri-service solution for customers on five continents.

The Right Data at the Right Time
With its fully integrated maintenance and supply capability, Tapestry’s GOLDesp MRO & Supply software gives organizations clear insight into the availability of their assets at all times. Serving as a centralized hub for information, GOLDesp captures timely, relevant information –cutting through the clutter – so decision-makers can see the Big Picture. This ensures faster response times, lower sustainment costs and an optimized supply chain.

GOLDesp makes it effortless to track and manage assets, including health and history, from start to finish. GOLDesp gives maintenance planners an effective tool for tracking and scheduling maintenance tasks. With just a few clicks, MRO personnel can review the complete history of any asset – from cradle to grave – and all transactions in between.

The enterprise solution also provides distributed maintenance capability, providing a secure means of linking industry to the battlefield. This “disconnected mode” offers a unique advantage for forward-deployed bases, which can retain centralized visibility and control without an internet connection.

Additionally, GOLDesp provides customers with interface access to the U.S. military standard (MILS) supply system, a major benefit for both domestic and foreign military sales (FMS) customers

Eliminating or Mitigating Cannibalization
GOLDesp ensures mission readiness by eliminating or mitigating cannibalization practices, thereby ensuring maximum equipment availability – whenever, wherever assets are needed. GOLDesp’s materiel forecasting capabilities ensure spares are readily available to support maintenance activities.

This minimizes the need for cannibalization by accurately identifying requirements for new parts in advance, while reducing stockpiling of unnecessary spares.

If cannibalization is necessary, GOLDesp ensures all processes are controlled and traceable. The robust software provides quality assurance/quality control process flows, which helps to reduce delays in replenishing parts for the donor equipment.

GOLDesp CUSTOMERS

Tapestry’s GOLDesp customers include the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Special Operations Command, and several international partner nations including the U.K., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Romania.

The Boeing Company also uses GOLDesp for its PBL contracts, including support for the C-17 Globemaster III and the AH-64D Apache Longbow. Under the Boeing administration, GOLDesp even supports MRO and supply activities for the International Space Station as it orbits 250 miles above the earth.

 Download article reprint  of this sponsored content that appeared in Aviation Maintenance Magazine (AVM).

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information
does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.