Title: Throughput analysis of the overhaul line of a repair depot

Authors: Rajiv N. Rai; Nomesh Bolia

Addresses: Indian Air Force, Chennai-600055, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas-110025, New Delhi, India

Abstract: Industrial engineering concepts are presently not considered in plant performance analysis at repair depots in military aviation (MA). In this paper, the problem of engine overhaul line which is unable to meet its overhaul task is considered. The three major aero engine components that are repaired at industrial engineering line are then identified and shortlisted for analysis. The repair lines are then modelled with the help of workstations and the concepts of variability and queuing models for carrying out throughput (TH) analysis are applied to these three repair lines. The bottlenecks in the repair process of the shortlisted components are identified subsequently followed by discussion on remedial measures. It is demonstrated that incorporation of remedial measures can lead to enhancement of the TH of the three selected components leading to an overall increase in line TH in sync with the target.

Keywords: throughput analysis; queueing models; variability; bottlenecks; mean time to repair; MTTR; effective process time; utilisation rate; repair depots; work-in-process; WIP; low pressure compressor rotor blades; combustion chamber outer casing; CCOC; turbine blades; overhaul lines; military aviation; military aircraft; modelling; aero engine components; industrial engineering; remedial measures.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2016.080276

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2016 Vol.25 No.4, pp.459 - 478

Received: 14 Feb 2015
Accepted: 16 May 2015
Published online: 10 Nov 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article