Availability analysis for Gripen within the Swedish Air Force
For many years Trilogik has supported the Gripen Project at FMV (Swedish Defence Material Administration) with continuous analysis of reliability and availability for the Gripen fighter aircraft. The analysis work covers several different calculations and simulations in both short and long term scenarios, with the simulation model ASTOR as the main tool.
The analysis service provided by Trilogik also covered preparation of an extensive database for Gripen material data. This included configuration data, maintenance intervals, failure rates from system monitoring, statistics for turn-around-times for LRU maintenance, LRU prices and the total number of each LRU type.
Trilogik has through the analysis work provided FMV with:
- forecast of flight time production for the following years and expected problems
- evaluation of suggested improvements in the area of availability
- recommendations of cost-effective procurement and allocation of spares
Within the scope of the availability analysis performed, Trilogik has also participated in tailoring the Gripen support contracts with the industry, including analysis of different requirements, consequences, risks etc. This work also included Trilogik participation in negotiations, contract texts and later the monitoring of requirements.
Analysis of export scenarios for Gripen
Gripen has for many years been a successful export product for Sweden. Three countries have up to today purchased or leased the Gripen aircraft system through contract with FMV (Swedish Defence Material Administration). Furthermore a large number of other countries have received proposals for purchase or lease of the Gripen aircraft.
Trilogik has, in all of these export projects, contributed with simulation of the scenarios at hand, covering analysis of different alternatives, consequences, costs etc. The results from these analyses have been part of the basis for the proposal, manly regarding availability and support requirements.
In addition to the availability analysis performed, Trilogik has also participated in negotiations, tailoring commitments in both proposals and contracts.
HKP 10 / HKP 16 Assignment in Afghanistan, ISAF
In preparation for the Swedish participation in ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan 2011 with three of the Swedish Air Force helicopters HKP 10 (Super Puma) Trilogik performed an extensive analysis as a basis for the planning and realisation of the Swedish helicopter assignment within ISAF.
The analysis covered dimensioning of spare parts needed for HKP 10 and other maintenance pre-requisites associated with the support and maintenance of the helicopters during the assignment. Also the consequences on the remaining HKP 10 operation within Sweden was analysed resulting in suggested measures to maintain required availability and flight operation.
A similar analysis was also performed for HKP 16 (Black Hawk) in preparation for its rotation of HKP 10 in Afghanistan 2013.
ASTOR analysis and LRU dimensioning for Helicopter 15
HKP 15 is a light helicopter used by the Swedish Defence Force for training purposes. It can also be used for in-battle missions. It is a military version of Agusta A109 and is manufactured by the Italian/British company AgustaWestland.
In preparation for a planned increase in the annual flight time of the helicopter, an evaluation of possible availability increasing measures and strategies was requested. What steps and changes would be necessary in order to achieve the desired flight time.
In preparation for the analysis, Trilogik compiled an extensive database for HKP 15 material data. This included configuration data, maintenance intervals, failure rates from system monitoring, statistics for turn-around-times for LRU maintenance, LRU prices and the total number of each LRU type. Interviews with maintenance technicians gave a picture of typical down times for LRU replacement and other on-helicopter maintenance. Existing maintenance time data from other helicopter types was also assembled.
Based on the prepared set of material data, Trilogik carried out a series of analyses, in collaboration with representatives from the Defence Material Administration (FMV) and the Defence Force.
The analyses comprised:
- An ASTOR simulation for the “present situation”, with current data and last years achieved flight time. This served to calibrate and validate the model.
- A calculation of an optimal replenishment procurement of Line Replaceable Units, LRUs, balanced against the desired increased flight time.
- A range of ASTOR simulations with increased flight time, replenished LRU stock and different sets of other suggested availability increasing measures, e.g. for the maintenance window, thus demonstrating a possible path towards achieving the desired higher flight time.
Development of the ASTOR simulation model
ASTOR is a simulation model for analysis of aircraft operation, reliability and maintenance. The model is being developed on assignment from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV), with the purpose of being a tool both for internal analysis work and for analysis needs initiated by the Defence Force. Participation from Trilogik includes several steps of specification and development of ASTOR.
The simulation model is based on event-driven stochastic simulation, where random processes are quite dominating (time to failure, repair times etc. are usually random variables). Therefore much focus is aimed at mechanisms that handle randomness, such as repeated simulations and the formation of mean values and different variability measures. The data model for input data is very extensive, with more than 100 different tables, although all are rarely used for the same model case. The program code comprises over 250 000 lines of C++.
Production simulation of a freeze drying plant for pharmaceuticals
Octapharma AB is major producer of plasma based pharmaceuticals, with one production plant situated on Kungsholmen in Stockholm.
In connection with a pilot study for a new automated production line for filling, freeze drying and capping of bottle packaged pharmaceuticals, a need was identified for a production simulation of the planned new plant. The main objective was to ensure that the desired production capacity should be realised.
On assignment from Octapharma, Trilogik developed an AnyLogic simulation model for the conceptual production plant. In collaboration with Octapharma the model was used for evaluation of different alternatives with regard to transport solution, number of freeze dryers and their capacity as well as for analysing uncertainties regarding downtimes and separation time requirement between different product types.
Tools for reporting key performance indicators for reliability
KSU – Kärnkraftsäkerhet och Utbildning AB (Nuclear Power Safety and Training) – is a centre for education and simulator training for Swedish Nuclear Power Plant personnel. The responsibilities include the operational availability of the simulators. External as well as internal requirements apply for simulator reliability monitoring in terms of key performance indicators, KPIs.
KSU turned to Trilogik for suggestions and support regarding the KPI report content and for developing software tools that streamline and simplify calculation of the KPIs.
The resulting solution was a combination of two tools:
- An application developed in MS Access for data sorting and for checks of the basic data deriving from the KSU issue tracking system and booking system.
- An application in MS Excel for calculation and visualisation of the KPIs.
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A Swedish consulting company specialising in availability and reliability analysis, with simulation as the primary tool, independent from external funding and from the major players in the market.