We address the strategic issues of managing reparable aircraft parts for Korean Air Force. Management of reparable parts can make significant impacts on the availability of fighters or other planes. To maintain highest availability under the budget constraints, more efficient and effective inventory strategies are needed.
In this thesis, appropriate inventory strategies for reparable aricraft parts along with the life cycle of aircraft which is based on the logistics relationships between assembly and subassembly. Logistics chain, which has three echelons and two indentures, is prepared using stochastic modeling techniques. Three echelons are base, depot and overseas at which stocks can be positioned. Stock position in overseas is peculiar to Korea, because most of the aircraft are imported and Korean Air Force is in the lack of mending ability of imported ones. Also two indentures are assembly and subassembly. In our model, stock level of each echelons are determined which minimize total expected backorders of assembly at base subject to a budget constraint. Also, several sensitivity analyses are performed with the model parameters such as mending ability, supply time between two echelons.
The major contributions of this study can be summarized as follows. First, the determination of optimal inventory level at each of echelons using more practical model. Second, some guidance for improving mending ability and reduction of replenish time of inventories. Third, in the aspect of operationalizing the study, alignment direction of performance measures for different logistics departments is suggested. Finally, operational inventory policies are suggested along with the life cycle of aircraft.
