The Work Order Logistics File (WOLF)

Would you like to know which repair parts were the most frequently used in 1993 in maintaining an M1A1 tank? How about the average number of hours it takes to repair a HMMWV engine? Or the main components that are causing maintenance actions on the HEMTT? How many days does it take to return a Bradley to a unit when it is inducted to indirect support maintenance? All of these questions and more can be answered by simply picking up your phone and calling the Army’s USAMC Logistics Support Activity (LOGSA). The LOGSA, located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, operates and maintains a centralized data base of worldwide maintenance data generated from the direct support and general support (DS/GS) maintenance activities. This data base, called the Work Order Logistics File (WOLF) provides Army managers with the capability to perform maintenance and logistics analyses on fielded equipment and units. This data base can answer the type of questions posed above and many others. The best thing about the WOLF is that it imposes practically no burden on the units, but in turn provides the capability to store and access worldwide historical maintenance data — a capability which is not available to field maintenance units. The WOLF can be used by any unit or activity in the Army to analyze maintenance actions or equipment maintenance factors. How does the data get from the field to the WOLF? The process is easy and painless. The data contained in the WOLF are generated directly by the field maintenance support activities. Those DS/GS maintenance activities that use the Standard Army Maintenance System (SAMS) for their day-today maintenance management functions end up reporting to the WOLF. This submission is done by the SAMS- 2 sites which forward closed maintenance actions generated at the SAMS-1 sites to LOGSA or electronically via floppy diskette on a weekly basis. The data submitted to LOGSA includes all maintenance actions completed since the previous week. The key to the usefulness of the WOLF is completeness and accuracy of reporting. Any time a work order (DA Form 2407, Maintenance Request) is generated at the SAMS-1 level, data from that work order will eventually appear in the WOLF — if the SAMS-1 site follows established procedures and reports to the SAMS-2 sites as required. It is critical that the SAMS-1 sites report this data on a regular basis so that the SAMS-2 sites have complete submissions to LOGSA. The

LOGSA

currently receives weekly submissions from 103 SAMS-2 sites. This includes all of the Active Army and National Guard DS/GS Tables of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units. In addition, LOGSA receives data on closed maintenance actions from those Table of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) Directorates of Logistics (DOL) located at installations operating the Maintenance Information Management System (MIMS). The data from these two sources (SAMS and MIMS) are processed and loaded into the WOLF on a monthly basis. We also received data from the Fort Hood DOL which operates a unique maintenance management system. Approximately 250,000 records are loaded in to the WOLF every month, representing all maintenance actions completed in these units. The combination of data from the TDA and TO&E activities covers the vast majority of mainte-The Work Order Logistics File (WOLF) by Tom Ress ARMOR — September-October 1995 35 nance activities occurring at the DS/GS levels throughout the Army. What does all of this mean to you? By using the data contained in the WOLF, you can look at the maintenance factors affecting your equipment or your unit. The WOLF retains historical data for up to five years (currently from January 1990 to the current month). You can use this data to determine historical maintenance costs, maintenance man-hours, repair parts consumption, reasons for maintenance actions, number of days in maintenance, and other significant maintenance factors. The data in the WOLF are retained both by item repaired and by unit. In other words, every maintenance action is performed against an item of equipment, reported by National Stock Number (NSN) and End Item Code (EIC), and with an associated Unit Identification Code (UIC) and Data Processing Installation (DPI) code. If you need an analysis on an item, such as an M998 HMMWV, the NSN or the EIC may be used to access and extract the appropriate data from the data base. Similarly, an analysis on a particular unit or division would use the UIC or DPI code to extract data. Accurate reporting of data from the field is critical to the usefulness of the WOLF. Insertion of an incorrect EIC while entering data into the SAMS-1 computer can result in the data being incorrectly loaded into WOLF and thereby adversely affecting any studies performed that include that data. The studies that are done using SAMS/MIMS data that you submit to LOGSA have visibility at the highest levels within DA and above. The WOLF has been used to determine support costs for specific items of equipment, such as the M1A1 and the M2/M3 Bradleys. Also, the WOLF was used to determine problems affecting maintenance and support of the HEMTT and the UH-60 Blackhawk. These studies were used by HQDA and the item managers to isolate and correct equipment and component support problems. Many WOLF analyses are used for general officer briefings and information papers. Inaccurate or missing reports from your units can and do show up in these reports. Failure to submit your SAMS/ MIMS data to LOGSA on a regular and timely basis can hamper the effectiveness of management decisions and have resulted in follow-up actions with non-reporting units to determine reasons for lack of reporting. Accuracy of reporting of certain pieces of data in SAMS is also important. For instance, the accuracy of manhours used in the course of maintenance actions is important since it affects the man-hour utilization figures used to determine support requirements. Similarly, accuracy of MOS reporting affects calculation of manpower studies, and accuracy of repair parts consumption affects determinations of parts stockage for units. We want you to use the WOLF. The data can help you manage your maintenance budget and increase the effectiveness of your maintenance unit. These are two ways you can get data from the WOLF. If you anticipate being a one-time or infrequent user of WOLF, the LOGSA will perform analyses for you. You can call, write, FAX, or e-mail us and we will respond to your request. If you will be a recurring or frequent user of the WOLF, a password will be issued to you that will allow direct access to the data base. You will be provided with a password and WOLF User’s Guide that will instruct you in accessing and using the

WOLF.

If you have tried to use the WOLF in the past and have been unsuccessful due to the difficulty of its use, we have made considerable changes in the past months that have improved the system. The WOLF is now a user-friendly, menu driven system that provides easy access to this historical maintenance data so you can easily manipulate the data from your terminal. Access procedures are detailed in the user’s guide, but basically all you need is a terminal and modem. There is no other source for historical maintenance data on all items within the Army. If you require this type of data within your organization, LOGSA is the place to contact. The WOLF is a valuable tool that can improve the maintenance and management of equipment in the Army inventory. It is available for your use. Tom Ress is a logistics management specialist with the USAMC Logistics Support Activity. 36 ARMOR — September-October 1995 If you have any questions on the data available in the WOLF, please contact the WOLF office at LOGSA. The address and phone numbers are: Executive Director USAMC Logistics Support Activity

ATTN: AMXLS-RRS (WOLF)

Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-7466

DSN 645-9711/9695

COMM (205) 955-9711/9695

FAX: DSN 645-9711

COMM (205) 955-9700

e-mail: tress@logsa1-emh2.army.mil The WOLF is now a user-friendly, menu driven system that provides easy access to this historical maintenance data so you can easily manipulate the data from your terminal.