Improving the computational efficiency of metric-based spares algorithms

作     者：Nowicki, David R. Randall, Wesley S. Ramirez-Marquez, Jose Emmanuel 

作者机构：Stevens Inst Technol Sch Syst & Enterprises Hoboken NJ 07030 USA Univ N Texas Dept Mkt & Logist Coll Business Denton TX 76201 USA 

出 版 物：《EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH》 (欧洲运筹学杂志)

年 卷 期：2012年第219卷第2期

页      面：324-334页

核心收录：

学科分类：1201[管理学-管理科学与工程(可授管理学、工学学位)] 07[理学] 070104[理学-应用数学] 0701[理学-数学] 

基　　金：Naval Postgraduate School [N00244-10-1-0074] 

主　　题：Inventory Performance based logistics Logistics Supply chain Optimization Outcome based contracting 

摘      要：We propose a new heuristic algorithm to improve the computational efficiency of the general class of Multi-Echelon Technique for Recoverable Item Control (METRIC) problems. The objective of a METRIC-based decision problem is to systematically determine the location and quantity of spares that either maximizes the operational availability of a system subject to a budget constraint or minimizes its cost subject to an operational availability target. This type of sparing analysis has proven essential when analyzing the sustainment policies of large-scale, complex repairable systems such as those prevalent in the defense and aerospace industries. Additionally, the frequency of these sparing studies has recently increased as the adoption of performance-based logistics (PBL) has increased. PBL represents a class of business strategies that converts the recurring cost associated with maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) into cost avoidance streams. Central to a PBL contract is a requirement to perform a business case analysis (BCA) and central to a BCA is the frequent need to use METRIC-based approaches to evaluate how a supplier and customer will engage in a performance based logistics arrangement where spares decisions are critical. Due to the size and frequency of the problem there exists a need to improve the efficiency of the computationally intensive METRIC-based solutions. We develop and validate a practical algorithm for improving the computational efficiency of a METRIC-based approach. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm are analyzed through a numerical study. The algorithm shows a 94% improvement in computational efficiency while maintaining 99.9% accuracy. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.