An Examination of the Ship Material Condition Metrics (SMCM) Methodlogy

There is a perceived need for a single metric that represents the operational mechanical and electrical (M&E) readiness of ships. Such a number could be useful in maintenance planning, programming, and execution; in evaluating whether the fleet is ready for contingency; and in spotting systematic readiness deficiencies and making associated resource decisions. One effort to develop such a metric is the Ship Material Condition Metrics (SMCM) initiative developed at the Naval Warfare Assessment Station (NWAS) at Corona, California. As a pilot project, the formulas for the metric have been applied to the evaluation of the USS Lake Champlain (CG-57). OpNav N81 asked CNA to evaluate the way the metric was constructed. The NWAS model aims to roll up "readiness" evaluations of small pieces of equipment into a single number for the entire ship M&E. We assessed the model on two levels. In the first, we evaluated the NWAS model parameters and model structure for a significant subset of the ship systems. As a result of our investigations, we can suggest modifications to the formulas which should permit better handling of redundant systems and should better represent the criticality of particular subsystems. In the other part of our evaluation, we took a step back and critically reviewed the fundamental structure of the calculations, formulas, and numerical scales. Our aim was to evaluate whether the SMCM methodologies would give measures that are meaningful, consistent, and useful.