The United States Air Force is faced with the substantial challenge of how to sustain an evolving global mission and Air Force supply chain in an era of constrained budgets and resources. In particular, resource constraints are being acutely felt in the logistics arena, where an aging fleet, more complex systems, accelerated operational tempo, and new business methods require a high level of adaptability from the work force. The unique challenges of supply chain engineering create a difficult array of conditions that hamper sustainment efforts. Supply chain engineers need to be able to quickly and accurately evaluate engineering efforts to identify key electro, mechanical and material critical characteristics. Airtronics, a proven DOD contractor, specializing in aerospace logistics support, reengineering, reverse engineering, repair and overhaul, proposes to develop the Collaborative Engineering Support Tool. This software solution promotes collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing amongst an engineering team. It is simultaneously an experience-based, electronic tutor, an engineering fundamentals database, an information manager, and an engineering assistant that can maximize knowledge content and information delivery to engineering personnel.
Benefit: The Collaborative Engineering Support Tool will enhance the productivity and quality of the Supply Chain Engineering teams by providing information on a wide array of engineering methodologies and the tools necessesary to make decisions based on these methodologies. The Tool will help guard against knowledge loss due to employee attrition, and will help transfer skills and knowledge around the team through collaborative work. The tool will also help guard against duplication of efforts.
Keywords: Electronic Tutor, Supply Chain Engineering, Knowledge Database, Collaboration, Decision Making Process, Engineering Methodologies
