Case Study
Flexibility “of” vs. “in” Systems: A Strategy for Designing Fleet-Based Systems for Uncertainty
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Key Idea Description
Resilience through strategic fleet management in complex vehicle systems, focusing on military vehicle fleets. This study examines the “flexibility ‘of’” versus “flexibility ‘in’” systems, showcasing a complementary strategy for fleet-based systems (FBS) under uncertainty. The research emphasizes the benefits of a mixed capability fleet, managed adaptively to respond to emerging needs without restructuring individual units, thus optimizing production decisions and enhancing operational readiness.
- Broad Area: Automotive Design, Fleet Vehicle Management, Military, Infrastructure Design, Transport, Highways, Uncertain Demand Mode Splits.
- Main issues of case: Flexibility “of”, Flexibility “in” and “on”, Vehicle fleets. Operational scenarios, Implementation
- Main analytic topics: Simulation, Multi-dimensional evaluation, Desirable fleet composition
Insights
- Strategic Flexibility in Fleet Composition: The study highlights the critical advantage of maintaining a fleet with diverse capabilities, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration based on operational needs. This approach, termed “flexibility ‘of’ the fleet,” enables military and commercial operators to adapt quickly without the need for time-consuming and costly refits of individual vehicles, thereby enhancing overall operational agility and responsiveness.
- Cost-Effectiveness of Modular Vehicle Design: Insights from the analysis demonstrate that “flexibility ‘in’ and ‘on’ vehicles,” which involves modular designs that can be easily upgraded or modified, significantly reduces long-term operational costs. This modular approach not only facilitates rapid adaptation to new technologies and threats but also ensures that fleet investments remain relevant over longer periods, maximizing the return on investment.
Training
Relevant lectures:
- Paradigm change in engineering systems and planning
- How to optimise design and decision-making under uncertainty
- How to manage the design process
Gallery
Abstract
To overcome these challenges, this paper introduces a complementary approach to flexible design, termed flexibility “of,” and applies it to a case study of a fleet of military vehicles (an FBS). Unlike LMS, FBS are composed of multiple identical units that collectively deliver value. While each unit is itself a complex system (e.g., a tank or aircraft), the collective nature of the operations provides additional paths to flexibility: in addition to implementing flexibility at the vehicle level, flexibility can be applied to the management of the fleet.
Flexibility “of” involves procuring a mixed capability fleet upfront and then actively managing which subsets of that fleet are deployed to meet emerging needs. Our results demonstrate the potential value for an of strategy and provide guidance for when different flexibility strategies should be adopted alone or in combination. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4053157]
Summary
Study Overview:
Sapol and Szajnfarber’s study investigates flexibility in military vehicle fleets, comparing two primary strategies: “flexibility of” the system versus “flexibility in” the system. The research focuses on a fleet of autonomous light combat vehicles and assesses how these strategies can adapt to rapidly changing military requirements
Key Concepts:
- Flexibility in Systems: This approach embeds adaptable features directly within each vehicle, allowing for modifications based on changing mission requirements. However, it’s often challenged by delays due to logistical and bureaucratic constraints.
- Flexibility of Systems: This strategy involves managing a diverse fleet with various types of vehicles that can be deployed based on different operational needs, minimizing the need for physical modifications to individual vehicles.
Financial Analysis:
The study performs a detailed Net Present Value (NPV) analysis to evaluate the economic impact of each flexibility strategy under scenarios with implementation delays. It highlights that:
- Delays in implementing flexibility significantly decrease the financial and operational value of the fleet.
- A diverse fleet (flexibility of systems) tends to offer better adaptability and cost-effectiveness over time, especially when rapid deployment and operational changes are necessary.
Implications for Defense Planning:
The study emphasizes the importance of strategic planning in defense acquisitions, advocating for a balanced approach that includes both individual vehicle adaptability and fleet diversity to ensure robust operational capabilities across various scenarios.
Conclusion
The research concludes that while embedding flexibility within individual vehicles can provide tactical advantages, managing a mixed fleet (flexibility of systems) offers greater strategic flexibility, reducing dependency on timely upgrades and modifications. This approach aligns better with the dynamic nature of military operations, where response time and adaptability are crucial.