Case Studies
Oshkosh — HIMARS
Oshkosh — LVSR
Oshkosh — FHTV
Harris — 52 Mod
Army — Red River Army Depot
Army — NextGen EMS
Army — EMS-2
Mobilized Systems, Inc.
Case Study — Army, Next Generation EMS
O'Neil & Associates is Taking EMS into the future:
In August 2003, O'Neil & Associates was awarded a $16.2 million, five-year contract from the U.S. Army TACOM to develop the Next Generation, Interactive Electronic Maintenance System (EMS) for U.S. Army trucks and tactical vehicles. The contract provides for the maintenance and update of the existing EMS system, while at the same time migrating EMS to a Web-based, Mil-Spec-compliant environment. The Next Generation EMS will transform the current application into a Web-centric environment that will enhance current functionalities and provide for greater interoperability with other systems well into the future. The Next Generation EMS is process driven and built around an object-based and open source code system, as free as possible from proprietary hooks.
The Next Generation EMS anticipates the high-bandwidth, Internet-connected world to improve not only the delivery of maintenance, but also improve the picture of situational awareness created by the maintenance impact on combat readiness. It will play an important role in the transition to embedded diagnostics in the near future.
Some of the features include:
- Web-based authoring portal and IETM displayed in a common Web browser
- Link directly to ULLS-G and GCSS-A to enable repair parts ordering and support of predictive/preventive maintenance
- XML conformance to DoD MIl-STD 2361C
- Data export capability compliant with MIL-STD-3008A
- Compliance with frame-based requirements of MIL-STD-40051
- Hyperlinking ability from troubleshooting to maintenance to parts data
- Collect and store maintenance and troubleshooting data
Our Next Generation EMS (NextGen) contract represents the next phase in the evolution of the EMS solution. Due to be released in early 2006, NextGen is a complete product information support system that utilizes World Wide Web technology to enhance the productivity and effectiveness of logisticians throughout all activities engaged during the life cycle of an asset.
There are three core components to the NextGen system, all based on MIL-STD 2361C:
- First is the content development component, which is compromised of a Web-based, guided authoring system, used to author Mil-Spec-compliant IETM and RPSTL data and a resource import module that enables asset managers to reuse data previously developed.
- The second component is the Content Management System (CMS) representing the backbone of the NextGen system. The CMS comprises work flow, warehouse, packaging, and publishing modules. At runtime, the CMS receives data from the content development component and validates its authenticity as well as its compliance to specifications and guidelines. The CMS also harmonizes the data with existing data stored in the CMS to ensure there is no duplication. This key step in the process streamlines production. The CMS packaging and publishing modules react on demand to prepare data which could be a portion or an entire IETM's content with all its necessary support tools for presentation to the end user.
- The third component is the presentation component. This component has the task of interacting with the end user to issue on-demand requests to the CMS and present the data in any one of the supported final media outputs such as paper, CD, or Browser.
NextGen provides a number of advantages over current product information support systems:
- For the logisticians and asset managers, it provides a client light, open source, modular architecture that is easy to maintain. It also enables them to reuse and repurpose data which reduces cost.
- The distribution and configuration management efforts are also greatly enhanced by the use of Web-based distribution channels and the elimination of duplicate validation processes.
- For the end user, it provides multiple presentation choices, a proven, nonproprietary, user-friendly browsing environment, and the ability to quickly access the latest available information.