Optimum Availability Assessment

Before embarking on an availability driven contract arrangement, it is necessary to determine the optimum availability requirements to satisfy operational needs whilst taking the accompanying logistic burden into account. For critical equipments, the requirement may be for 100% availability for 100% of the time, whilst other equipments that have a less severe impact on operational effectiveness will warrant an appropriately less strict contract performance.

Availability can also be measured in terms of Demand Satisfaction Rates which provide the link between availability and the time taken to satisfy the demand requirements. A requirement to satisfy 80% satisfaction of demands within 1 hour combined with a 100% satisfaction within 3 days will have different logistics implications than one to support a 98% satisfaction rate within 1 hour and 100% within 24 hours. The Turn Round Times necessary to support required availability rates, and the implications on spares pool sizes also need to be constantly reviewed to reduce Whole Life Costs.

LSC Group is unique in being able to provide a tool that contractors can use to monitor availability performance against the contracted criteria. Since it is event driven by movement transactions throughout the repair loop supply chain, resulting availability figures reflect the true performance of the contractor’s organisation. Such data can be used as evidence to the customer for contract payments and for identification of areas for improvement within the repair loop processes.