CECOM Field Support Initiative Announced as Franz Edelman Award Finalist
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland -- A U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) project was recently named by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management of Sciences (INFORMS) as a worldwide finalist for the INFORMS 2016 Franz Edelman Award.
The Franz Edelman Award is given for Achievement in Operations Research and Management Science. Finalists for this award are recognized for their excellence in developing and applying advanced analytic methods in order to solve complex problems or create new opportunities with impactful outcomes for the world.
CECOM's ability to develop, provide, integrate, and sustain the logistics and readiness of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems and mission command capabilities is well known across the Army. The nomination for this award is further proof of that acclaim.
In October 2015, INFORMS announced the CECOM Equipment Diagnostic Analysis Tool, Virtual Logistics Assistance Representative (CEDAT VLAR) team as one of six worldwide finalists for the 2016 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and Management Science.
To be selected as a finalist, the CEDAT VLAR team had to meet a series of rigorous selection criteria. In addition to giving a brief history of the project, the team had to demonstrate applied analytic methods, impacts and benefits of the project, portability, and executive endorsements.
"Operations Research (OR), specifically the Artificial Intelligence functionality inherent in Bayesian Networks, has breathed new life into the work of Sustainment Logistics," said CEDAT VLAR Team Lead David Aebischer. "We are now able to represent large bodies of expert knowledge and make them accessible to soldiers. The benefit to the soldier is increased speed and accuracy in troubleshooting and an integrated learning process. The benefit to the enterprise is a fully contextualized field data source with which to make better supply and repair decisions."
The nomination was given based on the merits of CEDAT VLAR and its impacts on Soldiers in the combat outpost environment, making the entire team a competitive finalist for the Edelman award. CEDAT VLAR is a highly intuitive computer application that uses Subject Matter Expertise to diagnose faults and shorten repair cycles via a knowledge-based system, ultimately reducing reliance on technical assistance for Soldiers in the field.
Using Bayesian Belief Networks and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGS), CEDAT VLAR bridges the gap between engineers and Soldiers by providing step-by-step troubleshooting procedures for complex C4ISR and mission command systems. These systems range from complex electronic communication and surveillance systems (networking radios and advanced imaging) to basic life support systems (tactical power generators.) Technical assistance for these systems is problematic, generally available only via helicopter transport and subject to weather, terrain, altitude, and threat constraints. Early misdiagnoses can initiate a chain of events that can create lengthy system outages and put lives in jeopardy. With CEDAT VLAR, Soldiers are capable of diagnosing equipment problems without relying on technical experts.
Early results of CEDAT VLAR's first increment for the High Antenna Radio Communication (HARC) systems are impressive; within 6 months of fielding the full increment of VLAR's HARC capability, CECOM was able to reduce the technical support footprint by 50%. This alone resulted in a year-over-year cost savings of $6 million. To date, the total cost savings from personnel reductions alone since 2013 are $20 million -- with projected future annual savings of $10 million. Additionally, No Evidence of Failure (NEOF) component returns have been reduced to zero over the last 18 months. Operators and maintainers still report significant reductions in troubleshooting time and an overall increase in maintenance efficiency. The key driver of the cost savings and improvements in effectiveness and efficiency is CEDAT VLAR's ability to assist system operators in remote environments. Finally, in the case of the HARC, CEDAT VLAR has created an atmosphere of complete confidence - connecting maintainers, crew members, and program managers by establishing a benchmark of advanced analytical capabilities where the need is most urgent.
In addition to CEDAT VLAR for the HARC system, systems currently in development and being tested in the field include the Tactical Quiet Generator (TQG) 30 and 60 B models, the Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT), and the Simple Key Loader (SKL). Using data analytics and operations research methodology, the CEDAT VLAR team continues to search for new opportunities to better serve Soldiers operating at the tactical edge.
"The CEDAT VLAR team has perfected a process for knowledge elicitation and for encoding that knowledge in Causal DAGs," Aebischer said. "CECOM leadership identified the potential value of this process and the VLAR application early on and has actively supported the development.
VLAR is now an integral part of CECOM's fleet management strategy and leads DOD in adopting OR-based sustainment strategies."
The winner of the 2016 Franz Edelman award will be announced at the Edelman Gala in Orlando, Florida on April 11, 2016.
For more information about CEDAT VLAR, contact Dave Aebischer at (931)561-2699 or via email at: david.a.aebischer.civ@mail.mil
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