Do Stryker Brigade Combat Teams Need Forward Support ...

Commentary
A Predictive Diagnostic
Maintenance System
ARMY LOGISTICIAN PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN OF UNITED STATES ARMY LOGISTICS
by StaFF Se r G e a n t Mi ch a e L WinKLer
The two-level maintenance system presents some unanticipated challenges
to maintainers. The author suggests that an evidence-based maintenance system
would help them accurately diagnose faults.
As part of its transformation, the Army is converting
from a four-level maintenance system to a
two-level maintenance system. Unit and direct
support maintenance assets are being combined to create
the field maintenance level, and general support and
depot maintenance are combining to form the sustainment
maintenance level. For two-level maintenance
to work, I believe the Army should develop a better
approach to diagnosing faults. Two-level maintenance
would be more effective if the Army had vehicles that
were uncomplicated or were designed specifically for
two-level maintenance.
Although vehicles have become more and more
complex, the Army has fewer mechanics and a smaller
logistics footprint. One would assume that enhanced
onboard system-monitoring capabilities would increase
the reliability of vehicles and reduce the time mechanics
need to spend on vehicle repairs. However,
based on what I have seen, I think the “failsafe” in
Army maintenance has been the reliability of vehicles’
mechanical systems, not the electronic monitoring systems
on those vehicles.
Sensor Reliability
To take this a step further, think
about the last time a malfunction light
came on in your car. The fault likely
was caused by a sensor that almost certainly
was in error. Onboard diagnostic
systems can tell you that a sensor is
malfunctioning. Why can’t we develop
a system that will predict when a sensor
will fail? Why can’t we determine (with
a relatively small deviation) how often
The high-mobility artillery rocket
system consists of a missile
system and the truck that transports
it. Both must be well-maintained
and operational for the system to
be effective.
that sensor fails? Perhaps we need to develop a built-in
sensor test, design around that sensor, or eliminate it.
All too often we seem to believe that adding sensors
makes the hardware we are given the best available. I
find that prognostics on ground vehicles are generally
complex and cause more problems than they solve.
This observation conflicts directly with the direction
the Army is taking with ordnance military operational
specialty skill sets. Each maintainer is now tasked to
know multiple vehicle systems and repair systems.
However, maintainers will probably never learn each
system well enough to become proficient in troubleshooting
them all.
Evidence-Based Diagnostics
In healthcare, Internet-based systems are available
to help doctors identify possible causes for patient
symptoms. One such statistical diagnostic assistant,
called “Isabel,” was developed by a father who sought
to change the diagnostic system that affected the way
his daughter (Isabel) was treated. This system is basically
an intuitive system that takes advantage of all
45