Maintenance Engineering for Maintenance Managers

Abstract

ABSTRACTMaintenance engineering is defined in JCS Pub 1 as the “application of techniques, engineering skills, and effort, organized to ensure that the design and development of weapons systems and equipment provide adequately for their effective and economical maintenance.” The requirement for effective maintenance engineering is clear as the Navy transitions into an environment of changing force structure and reduced maintenance resources.Maintenance engineering is needed commencing with conceptual design and continuing throughout ship life until inactivation or strike. Maintenance professionals must exercise this capability as good stewards of ship material readiness despite changing levels of maintenance resources. Evidence suggests effective maintenance engineering may not be in widespread use however, which prompts discussion of means that can be taken to revitalize and maintain this capability within the ship engineering community. While the current capability needs to be strengthened, action must also be taken to make maintenance engineering part of the culture instilled in future generations of decision makers.This paper focuses attention on the need for effective ship maintenance engineering. It describes action taken by NavSea to strengthen this capability in today's environment. It also suggests action to provide this capability to tomorrow's decision makers. It is intended to stimulate thought that will lead to more effective development and use of this important capability in the challenging times of maintenance change that lie ahead.