Research for repair

The military services, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Congress have all expressed concern about the shortages of spare parts for aviation units and about the workarounds, including the cannibalization of parts, that are required to achieve readiness goals. In this paper, we provide a theoretical framework that should help decision-makers understand why cannibalizations occur; what factors influence cannibalization rates; and, given the interaction of those factors, how to predict cannibalization rates. We start with a description of the theoretical model and then provide a numerical example. Next, we examine several policy implications and offer some suggestions for future research. Upon request, we will provide a spreadsheet calculator that will allow users in the Navy and Air Force to derive simulation results using their own parametric values.