Simulation in Support of Operations – A Simulation for Airline Engine Maintenance Management

Simulation as a tool pervades many businesses and industries, ranging from the medical and health environment to heavy industry, engineering, engineering design and training support. Simulation contributes significantly to training but also has an important role to play in 'fulfilling the promise' of business supporting decision analysis. The ability to investigate the likely outcomes and impact of alternative operational strategies, without making organisational changes or committing expensive assets, offers significant financial potential. This paper summarises a dissertation for the MSc Defence Simulation and Modelling Program at the Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University, UK. The paper describes the development of a discrete event simulation model for the Maintenance section of an airline. The aim of the model was to benchmark current engine maintenance operations and enable investigation of potential enhancements to maintenance operations. This paper shows that the role of simulation in ‘fulfilling the promise of business’, i.e. the optimisation of operations, can be realised through the application of logical processes that are transparent and cost effective. 1 The airline requested anonymity and non-disclosure of data.