Methodology to Develop Interactive Decision Support Systems for Complex United States Air Force Logistics Planning

摘要

Designing effective decision support systems for complex logistics planning is necessarily challenging to accomplish. Only now, with the advent of the Air Expeditionary Force concept of operations and impending advancements in logistics database capabilities, is an effective desktop decision support system for production level supervisors a feasible reality. Several factors including knowledge about resources and requirements, uncertainty, work domain task constraints, and database capabilities influence the decision making process of the logistics professional. To develop effective decision support systems, this research proposed a methodology that incorporates image theoretical constructs, work domain analysis, decision analysis, and knowledge-based heuristical modeling to capture and transform expert mental frameworks into computer-based support systems for supporting daily decision making. Specifically, this research includes knowledge-based model development and implementation. The model development was based on two components. First, it was based on field study observations and interviews with real-world logisticians at two air bases. Second, it was based on decision making activity analysis using observation and semi-structured interviews with production superintendents of operational F-16 maintenance units at Hill AFB, UT.