Reducing System Lifetime Spare Part Quantities Using Obsolescence Cycles: A Discrete Event Simulation

Reducing System Lifetime Spare Part Quantities Using Obsolescence Cycles: A Discrete Event Simulation Lifetime spare part procurement policies have been the mainstay of Department of Defense (DoD) support for critical warfighter systems. While this policy works for components that do not have obsolescence, computer servers can reach the end of their lives and no longer be supported by the manufacturers. As this occurs, the supply of spare parts that are available for procurement diminishes, impacting operational availability. Planning for obsolescence cycles during procurement enables continued ordering of spare parts as needed, reduces the quantity of components needed in on-hand inventory, and reduces costs while still meeting availability requirements. This praxis develops a discrete event simulation model that examines the computer server and component failure rates, total system cost, and inventory fluctuations for the system lifetime spare part procurement policy. The model then applies computer obsolescence cycles, both by itself and in combination with continuous and periodic review inventory methodologies to the same system. The resulting cost and operational availability are compared to determine if there are tangible benefits to leveraging an alternate spare part acquisition strategy.

Author

• Newell Jr, Paul A

Language

• en

Keyword

• Availability
• Spare Parts
• Computer
• Reliability
• Failures
• Architecture

Date created

• 2023

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Engineering Management

Degree

• D.Engr.

Advisor

• Young, Stephen D

Committee Member(s)

• Etemadi, Amir
• Widener, Donald

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/kd17ct612