| This study analyzes the C-141 overhaul operations at Warner Robins Air Logistic Center (WR-ALC). The literature review covers overhaul operations, techniques for scheduling in a constrained resource environment, and techniques for simulation optimization. The body of the study compares traditional formula based methods for computing facility requirements and aircraft induction scheduling to integer linear programming and simulation heuristic approaches.;The study objectives are twofold. First, a schedule that maximizes the release of excess hangar, ramp, and functional test facilities to WR-ALC for the pursuit other workload (the release schedule) is needed. These facilities must be available as quickly as possible. However, the release schedule must leave sufficient capacity to allow C-141 Production Division to meet its overhaul commitments. The second study must recommend an aircraft induction schedule that will enable the first objective (the induction schedule) to be achieved. At each step, the study analyzes the traditional formula approaches used to solve the problem, a mathematical programming approach, and a simulation approach to the problem. The schedules these three techniques generate are run through a simulation models and the key parameters of resource utilization and makespan are evaluated. Each technique is then evaluated against the trade-off criteria of speed, accuracy, and level of detail. The study finds that direct manipulation of the simulation model, i.e., the simulation approach, yields the most desirable results. |
