Additive Manufacturing (AM) has the potential to revolutionize key aspects of Military Logistics and partnerships between governmental and industrial organizations. Extreme outsourcing of key capabilities has created complex and deep hybrid organizations between armed forces and the private sector. In this study, the internal and external effects and requirements of Additive Manufacturing in the context of the hybrid organization of The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) and its strategic partner in Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO), and Millog Oy were studied. First, with a literature review, we sought to link the capability development processes and the change drivers within them in both military and commercial contexts. Then, we utilized an existing, structured capability model used by the FDF (DOTMLPFI) and its individual change drivers to form an initial concept of AM as a part of the hybrid organization in question. The initial concept shows that AM can increase the performance of the commercially backed Military Logistic System by mitigating the risks of spare parts shortage in case of supply line disturbances and by facilitating localized spare parts production. However, the different primary goals of the military and commercial organizations and the contractual base of the hybrid organization impose constraints on the capability development process. Administrative decision-making across the organizations and the conflict between maximizing military and commercial potential are the key challenges in maintaining joint-capability systems of hybrid organizations.
PurposeIn this study, the authors explore how novel and relevant technologies can change the overall design of systems, and which factors influence the design of resilient systems in particular. After evaluating the effects of these factors, the authors describe the potential role of AM-supported maintenance operations in military logistics and draw broader conclusions regarding designing for resilience.Design/methodology/approachThe authors build a simulation model of the AM-supported maintenance capability of a mechanised battalion to analyse factors affecting its resilience. AM production capacity specifically refers to metal printing and was verified by data generated from 3D printing of the actual APC parts.FindingsThe current AM speed is not able to increase resilience at the depot level, so at present, increasing the spare parts inventory is a better way to improve resilience. However, with future improvements in speed the AM may become feasible in battlefield maintenance.Practical implicationsAM holds great promise in increasing resilience of especially the spare part logistics. At present technology, it is not yet fully realised in the case.Originality/valueThe authors suggest a concrete system performance measure, where reaching a concrete limit, system resilience is lost. The authors present arguments for a definition of resilience where pre-disruption activities are not part of resilience. The authors maintain that simulation, with its ability to include detail, is well-suited in design-for-resilience because supply chains are context dependent and disruptions unexpected.
Background: The current research brings up the perspective of security-critical information systems in shared parameter databases in the context of processing sensitive data at Finnish Naval Warfare Centre. It refers to the environment of isolated military war gaming simulation and modeling systems. The research problem is: How to make an optimal solution for data distribution in different military war gaming simulation and modeling software? Objectives: The objective is to create a single shared database usable with different detail level software, e.g. high-level scenario simulation, technical system-of-system simulations, and system-level physical simulations. Methods: The methods are modeling, simulation and operation analysis. The approach is inductive, the strategy is a qualitative case study and the data collection was implemented by exploring database models and their combinations. The integration was implemented in an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS), PostgreSQL. Results: The shared database led to efficient access to simulation parameters, more straightforward system integration and improved scalability. Conclusions: The results of modeling and simulation indicated that the integration is possible to implement.
Background: The use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in military logistics is limited by the uncertainty about the legal risks of using the method. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the potential legal risks associated with AM of military materiel and its effects. The study was conducted as a case study, where AM is considered in military logistics. Methods: Legal issues were approached from the normative point of view in the context of potential legal dispute situations in four different cases. The topic was studied by reviewing and analyzing literature sources, official sources, and Finnish Defence Forces military materiel purchasing contracts and interviews. The study interpreted and systematized the general principles of IPR and contract law when using AM in the military. Results: An identified result of the study was that the use of AM to print military materiel under normal conditions may entail risks that should be contractually managed. In other cases, e.g. crises or wartime, there are risks, but they are difficult to predict and manage or are acceptable. The results of the study concern countries with a similar military economic system to Finland in terms of military logistics. The results can be applied to the activities of different security sectors, due to the similarity of their activities. Conclusions: The use of AM can enable the material to be used in safety situations where speed and versatility are required for material readiness. The use of the method requires a legal right, the holder of which has the right to manufacture the product. In different situations, the legal basis is open to interpretation and may pose risks to the decision-maker. The research will provide information to decision-makers for the preparation of contracts for the acquisition and maintenance of military material and implementing AM to military logistics.
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