combat systems, subsystems, and individual equip-
ment manuals) is an integral part of the PMS. These
manuals provide the necessary information for under-
standing, operating, and maintaining combat systems.
Shipboard maintenance falls into three categories:
(1) maintenance within the capability of ship person-
nel (organizational level); (2) maintenance requiring
assistance from outside the ship (intermediate level),
such as tender or fleet technical support centers; and
(3) maintenance requiring port facilities (depot level),
such as shipyard maintenance. Since the objective of
the PMS is to perform maintenance at the organiza-
tional or intermediate level, it does not reflect depot-
level maintenance. Combat systems readiness requires
efficient maintenance. The key to this capability is an
organized system of planned maintenance that is
designed to ensure the maximum operational readi-
ness of the combat systems.
This section describes the PMS objective, the
maintenance scheduling and data system, and the inte-
grated maintenance.
PMS OBJECTIVE
The PMS objective is to maximize operational ef-
ficiency of all equipment and to reduce downtime,
maintenance man-hours, and maintenance costs. Al-
though the PMS provides methods and resources to
accomplish each objective, it is not self-sufficient and
does not replace the initiative of maintenance super-
visors nor does it reduce the necessity for technically
competent personnel. Recording and providing feed-
back of maintenance and personnel data allow con-
tinuing management analysis for the improvement of
maintenance methods and personnel management.
Full use of the planning methods, along with the ac-
ceptance and cooperation of technicians, supervisors,
and management personnel, produces a maintenance
system with the inherent confidence, reliability, and
capability to help achieve maximum combat systems
readiness.
A sampling of data gathered from the fleet shows
conclusively that those ships that adhere to their PMS
schedules maintain a significantly higher state of ma-
terial readiness with no greater maintenance man-
power usage than those ships that do not adhere to
their PMS schedules.
The primary ingredients of the PMS program are
1.
2.
3.
4.
comprehensive procedures for planned main-
tenance of the combat systems, subsystems,
and equipment;
system fault-isolation procedures;
maintenance task performance scheduling and
control; and
methods, materials, tools descriptions, and
personnel required for maintenance.
Adherence to the PMS program will produce
1.
2.
3.
4.
improved confidence in system maintenance,
reduced testing time,
elimination of redundant testing resulting
from uncoordinated testing, and
detection of most malfunctions during sched-
uled maintenance events.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING
The normal flow of events that maintenance man-
agers use in developing an integrated maintenance
schedule is shown in figure 1-1. This figure shows
maintenance management responsibilities and the
sequence of events that flow from the department
master and work-center PMS record books through
the scheduling aids to test execution, unscheduled
maintenance, and reporting.
1-2
