Air Force ADP:

Depot Maintenance System Development Risks Are High

IMTEC-90-46: Published: May 25, 1990. Publicly Released: Jun 26, 1990.

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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Air Force Logistics Command's (AFLC) attempt to develop the Depot Maintenance Management Information System (DMMIS), focusing on whether: (1) the adaptation of Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II) software would be compatible with DMMIS operations; (2) AFLC acquisition cost estimates were reasonable; and (3) AFLC could meet its development schedule.

GAO found that: (1) AFLC believed that MRP II adaptation to DMMIS would be more difficult than expected; (2) AFLC estimated that MRP II would only meet 65 to 70 percent of DMMIS requirements, which would result in MRP software changes that could delay scheduling, exceed budget parameters, and require more staff hours; (3) at one location, AFLC needed over 4 years and 184,000 staff hours to clean up databases for DMMIS use, and the Air Force expected a similar effort at each of the other five locations; (4) to ensure that DMMIS would stay on schedule and within the budget, AFLC negotiated development changes with its primary contractor, but those modifications could add further risks and delay the prototype completion date; (5) under the new approach, AFLC intends to simultaneously adapt MRP II at five locations; and (6) lack of management continuity increased DMMIS development risks.

Recommendations for Executive Action

  1. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: In its October 1990 milestone II oversight review, Defense directed the Air Force not to deploy the system to sites other than Ogden until a milestone III oversight review is successfully completed.

    Recommendation: To address issues raised in this report, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Air Force to complete the prototype system at the Ogden Industrial Products and Landing Gear Division before committing resources to develop DMMIS at other product divisions.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  2. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: Defense concurred with this recommendation and will submit a revised cost and schedule estimate prior to the milestone III oversight review, currently scheduled for late 1991.

    Recommendation: To address issues raised in this report, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Air Force to restructure the DMMIS schedule and cost estimates to reflect this change in development strategy.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  3. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: Defense agreed to make every effort to maintain management continuity within the bounds of the military rotation policy. It indicated that, as a civilian, the deputy program manager provides continuity.

    Recommendation: To address issues raised in this report, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Air Force to ensure management continuity for the DMMIS program.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

 

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