THIS PAPER covers recent advancements in the maintainability measurement and prediction art, and it describes the Martin Company activity devoted to this effort under the Air Force (AFBSD) Titan II contract AF04(647)-576.
The application of two significant techniques established for the military services for measuring and predicting maintainability in terms of inherent maintenance downtime are covered.
The prediction technique developed by RCA Service Company under Air Force (RADC) contract AF30(602)-2057 was derived from field data on Air Force ground electronic equipment in the SAGE system. This technique involves the use of an analytical model relating numerically scored qualitative characteristics to system maintenance downtime.
The maintainability prediction technique developed by Federal Electric Corporation under Navy (BUSHIPS) contract Nobsr75376 was derived from fleet electronic data. It involves the use of a matrix of standard times to accomplish hardware maintenance at specific functional levels.
The application of these techniques, which are based on statistical analyses of specific electronic systems, was limited -- pending correlation with other equipment types and systems. This established the need to adapt, enlarge, and verify these techniques for use on aerospace ground and airborne electronic and mechanical systems. Such a research program was accomplished by the Martin Company. Its findings are reported.