A Simulation-Based Analysis of the Impact of In-Sourcing a Major Process Element on the Coast Guard Hh-60j Depot Maintenance Process

Leaders at the United States Coast Guard's Aircraft Repair and Service Center (ARSC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina recently formalized their planning and analysis functions by adding a dedicated branch to their command structure. The Planning and Analysis Branch intends to apply computer modeling and simulation to study the impact of process changes to the various Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM) lines. This research considers the applicability of this type of modeling and simulation, using ARENA to study the current HH-60J PDM process. The contribution of this research is a methodology specific to ARSC needs, an analysis of methodology based on a discrete event simulation model of PDM lines, and a specific case study demonstrating the methodologies. The response variable of interest is average PDM process time as a function of either in-sourcing or out-sourcing labor for a major process step. The research includes development and evaluation of a macro-level process model using ARENA 5.0.