Costs and Benefits of the Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS)

摘要

The Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS) replaces paper-basedtechnical orders as a means of providing technical information needed to maintain F-16 aircraft. Technical information can be accessed on a computer based portable device that is carried to the aircraft to assist in the diagnosis of faults. A field test of IMIS on three F-16 aircraft subsystems showed that, compared to the use of paper technical orders, MIS can save time needed to diagnose malfunctions, order spare parts, complete repairs, and increase the number of correct diagnoses. Improvements were found among technicians who had not received special training as well as among specialists who had. The performance of general aviation technicians using IMIS was, on every measure taken, superior to that of specialized technicians using paper technical orders. These improvements suggest that use of IMIS can save about $21.6 M per year of the cost to maintain F-16 aircraft, after accounting for costs of developing and using IMIS. It must be possible to accumulate small time savings before they can produce actual savings. It appears reasonable to extend IMIS technology to the maintenance of other complex systems. Potential benefits include reduced training, an enlarged manpower pool for maintainers, and increased availability of aircraft for combat sorties because of reduced maintenance time.