Increased Standardization Would Reduce Costs of Ground Support Equipment for Military Aircraft
LCD-80-30
Published: Feb 07, 1980. Publicly Released: Feb 07, 1980.
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Highlights
Military aircraft ground support equipment was reviewed to determine whether more commonality of support equipment was feasible and whether earlier planning during the aircraft design phase could reduce the number and kinds of this equipment entering military inventories. Each new aircraft developed for the military services results in the development of thousands of ground support equipment items, much of which performs the same function as equipment already in service.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should vigorously pursue a policy for support equipment standardization. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require that the services implement a system of incentives to make standardization desirable to both contractors and the Government. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should establish a focal point in the Office of the Secretary of Defense to guide and direct the services in carrying out the policy and detailed plans. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to systematically examine what it takes to service an aircraft on the ground and what avionics systems need testing. Once this has been determined, standard equipment could be used or designed to service and test the variety of aircraft currently in the inventory. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop a general planning strategy for support equipment that not only identifies acquisition problems and areas for increased management attention but also takes advantage of opportunities to promote standardization and reduce the number of different support equipment items. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should monitor the services' planned use of standard support equipment items to ensure that they have participated in the equipment's design and development stages. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should evaluate the capabilities of the various support equipment data systems to determine which systems can most promptly provide the cost complete, up-to-date, accurate, and readily accessible information. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to assess, during aircraft design, whether support equipment needs can be satisfied: (1) by using the existing supply system without redesigning the aircraft; (2) by altering the design to accommodate an existing piece of equipment; or (3) if new equipment is justified, by evaluating whether it could be used for other aircraft. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should impose tight controls when new items enter the supply system so that their assigned names are recognized by all potential users when screening available data systems and manuals. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require that Air Force and Navy top management oversee the adequacy of the review process and take an active part in the approval or denial of contractor-recommended items. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct support equipment managers to coordinate with weapon program managers and field activities to provide and get feedback to enhance standardization. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the services to include all necessary support equipment items in their data systems. The systems should include data on item descriptions, sizes, shapes, reliabilities, capabilities, and applications. The systems should also designate preferred items that the Government wants contractors to use when they design new equipment. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop specific methodology to guide reviewers through the review process so that they can decide realistically whether items are necessary. The methodology should include the requirement to screen existing inventories and justify why existing assets are unacceptable. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should clearly define the review roles and responsibilities of essential organizations and eliminate those activities which provide little or no substantive assistance in deciding the adequacy of recommended items. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should decide whether the time constraint imposed for unusually complex items, such as avionics testing equipment, is appropriate. If not, devise different strategies to ensure that complex equipment can be carefully reviewed and delivered when needed. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should establish an activity to coordinate the efforts of item and system managers, equipment specialists, design engineers, uses, and any other group participating in support equipment acquisition. The activity should maintain management visibility over support equipment and assess whether more standard equipment should be developed. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to coordinate their research and development efforts so that they do not duplicate support equipment items performing similar functions, particularly for aircraft common to both services. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should reinforce the services' cataloging and standardization organizations' role in approving new equipment by requiring their input before such equipment enters the system. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the services to use design specifications and multiyear procurements, if authorized by law. The Secretary should provide instructions for the services to use negotiated procurements when competitive means to increase standardization cannot be applied. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should evaluate the support equipment acquisition practices used in the airline industry and determine the extent to which the practices instituted to limit support equipment items and costs and to increase standardization could be used by DOD. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
Aircraft maintenanceEquipment inventoriesEquipment managementMaintenance standardsMilitary aircraftDesign specificationsAircraftGovernment procurementResearch and developmentMilitary inventories