A case study of the application of reliability centered maintenance (RCM) in the acquisition of the advanced amphibious assault vehicle (AAAV)
This thesis examined the application of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) in the acquisition of the Marine Corps' Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV). RCM is referred to throughout various service and DoD wide references, but in the absence of specific guidance on how to apply RCM to an acquisition, the AAAV program provided a unique opportunity to analyze key decisions and results. The research included an examination of the RCM process to include RCM training provided on site at the AAAV program, a review of pertinent program documents, interviews with program representatives, and an analysis of the critical decision to utilize the RCM process. The key findings of the research effort concluded that when RCM is applied to an acquisition with program commitment, the program will gain a greater, more focused understanding of the system and subsystems, than with the traditional Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA). AAAV also demonstrated that RCM benefits were broad and not limited to just maintenance analysis and that these benefits could be gained at any stage of the acquisition. This thesis concludes by recommending that the acquisition community recognize the benefits and institutionalize RCM into the acquisition process.
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Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School