Page 34 - ADT APRIL - MAY 2021 Online Magazine

Disconnected Operations – It’s Data IFS has achieved exactly this with its
Dependent Disconnected Operations functionality unveiled
Re-syncing information such as engineering & maintenance data, at the launch of IFS Cloud.
technical records and more may sound simple, but this is a very The solution supports data aggregation, trans-
difficult task to manage from a data architecture perspective. While fer and analysis between an MOB and FOB to [ COLUMN ]
aircraft or vehicle systems will usually be connected for 99 per deliver in three core ways:
cent of the time, data inconsistency is probable during the 1 per
cent of time they may spend disconnected. Without consistent 1. Asset Compliance and
information on what has taken place during a mission, the MOB Baseline Updates
cannot gain a single version of the truth on the asset’s status and Supporting software should be able to address
availability—limiting a commander’s decision capability. This applies the core requirement needed to transfer assets
to many military assets, including naval equipment which commonly between nodes, including asset transfers and
operates at huge scale and in disconnected environments. This baseline and records transfers. Workflow
scale is only set to increase, as U.S. Navy plans highlight a force- management functionality should prepare
level goal for an even more distributed fleet architecture. deployments and imports of assets from MOBs
to FOBs and vice versa.

2. Technical Records Repository
When technical records are created in multi-
ple internal or external systems, command or
central maintenance management requires an
aggregated view to make and confirm tacti-
cal capability decisions. A Technical Records
Repository (TRR) should enable access to the
full set of historical records for maintenance
performed and usage accrued on an aircraft
or component.

With a reliable, and up-to-date TRR, the CEA
can put trust in the data that is being fed back
Data Exchange Must Work Both Ways to them from the field – resulting in a feedback
But information exchange must be two-way. Equipment updates loop with central command to accurately deter-
from a MOB will need to be received by FOB personnel, and assets mine force-wide availability and operational
come with an allowable baseline configuration, which change and readiness.
update regularly. In defence operations, the Central Engineering
Authority (CEA) creates and maintains the maintenance and equip- 3. Extending the Core
ment baselines, and baselines at autonomous bases must remain Maintenance System to Deliver
up-to-date. “Anywhere Operations”
This functionality should be fully integrated
Changes to allowable configuration or critical technical bulletins into core maintenance management software,
must be ‘pushed’ outwards to all operational nodes and certain eliminating the need for data duplication. This
airworthiness updates may directly impact an individual aircraft’s integration delivers a complete spectrum of
safety and ability to carry out a mission so, accessibility for front military equipment maintenance management
line personnel is integral. Keeping Total Asset Readiness achievable in a single integrated business platform.
despite connectivity challenges lies within the “quality” of this data
and the timely, accurate information offered by a two-way data Total Asset Readiness
exchange will in turn, render into better strategic decision-making. Maintained at all Times
Carrying out disconnected operations requires
Purpose-Built Software Required to Support a sophisticated underlying software architec-
Three Critical Focus Areas ture that will protect military operations during
Military operators require purpose-built software to address the critical moments of service. With the right
unique challenges of operating from remote and austere environ- software infrastructure, military organizations
ments. A containerized software architecture is key, and involves can be confident that Total Asset Readiness
bundling an application together with all the related configuration can be achieved and that a consistent picture
files, libraries and dependencies required to run efficiently across for all commanders, frontline personnel and
different environments. Containerization meets the challenges maintenance centers on the status of available
of scale, rapid deployability and being self-contained as secure, equipment is available, regardless of connec-
standalone software. tivity interruptions.

34 | April/May 2021 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT