Swiftships executed a major program for the U.S. Army on SLEP for LCU 2000 vessels. The scope included:

• On-Condition Cyclical Maintenance (OCCM)
• Replacement of propulsion engines and bow thruster engines
• Replacement of generators including emergency generator
• Replacement of electrical switchboard
• Condition-based hull and superstructure repairs
• Replacement of selected communication and navigation systems

As the initial effort, Swiftships Systems Engineering and Production team provided amplifying information about the continued use of the US Army’s LCU 2000 vessels. We completed Service Life Extension Assessment (SLEA) and determined the risks and the life cycle costs of continuing the product or service versus the cost of a replacement system. The program involved three (3) LCU’s, each with different design variations.

Our SLEP  program concluded the following:

• a cost plan of SLEP operation was submitted to the US Army per vessel
• a maintenance plan was submitted with a schedule, and cost (if criteria exceeded the cost, additional funding was requested via CFRs)
• upon further inspection during the effort, if parts/systems were about to reach their operations life limits, an On-Condition Cyclical Maintenance (OCCM) plan was submitted per task for further approval
• if parts/systems were no longer available for repair and maintenance, an alternative (Boat ALT) was submitted to the Army Watercraft Division for Engineering approval

Swiftships System Engineers and Logisticians proactive approach to predict, led to tremendous savings and minimum vessels downtime. Our proven SLEP methodology allowed to prevent system failures before the operations and support costs rise above acceptable limits. In addition, our PMO team tracked critical factors during the entire SLEP effort:

• Current life cycle costs of the system
• Design life and expected remaining useful life of the system
• Software maintenance
• Configuration management
• Warranty policy
• Availability of parts, subsystems, and manufacturing sources
• Availability of system documentation to support life extension

Other services offered during our SLEP team included the following:

Reset. Actions taken by Swiftships production and maintenance team to restore units to a desired level of combat capability commensurate with the unit’s future mission. It encompassed maintenance and supply activities that restore and enhance combat capability, often including modifications or incremental upgrades to the unit and pre-positioned equipment damaged, stressed, rendered obsolete, or worn out due to combat operations by repairing, rebuilding, or procuring replacement equipment and components.

These maintenance and supply activities involve depot and field level (i.e., organizational and intermediate) repairs and overhauls centrally managed to specified standards. Procurement, Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E), and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) teams that were involved during repairs/overhauls, and recapitalization (rebuild or upgrade) that enhances existing equipment through the insertion of new technology or restoration of selected equipment to a zero-miles/zero-hours condition.

Reconstitution. Action beyond reset was taken during or after operational employment to restore or upgrade combat capability to full-spectrum operational readiness. Force reconstitution spans activities from normal sustainment (rearm, refuel, recovery, repair, and replace), through reorganizational regeneration of units to redeployment. Reconstitution phases included personnel, equipment, and training.

KIT of Material (KoM). Swiftships KIT of Materials (KoM) refers to new materials and technologies developed in a closed chain, from basic research to economic implementation, using our systems integration team that study basic to advance the development of the client’s requirements. The growth of materials and the development of environmentally friendly technologies play a unique role in the development of KoM. Furthermore, the integration of information-based approaches and modeling in the digitalization of material plays a growing and increasingly important role.

Structuring. Our unique 3D manufacturing techniques allow us to deliver the same components for every kit. This feature enables the production team to prepare a work package before characterization and disposition of the material required during various production phases. 

Characterization. The systems play an essential role in understanding the material function and structure formation and their further application development. A key challenge is to close the loop in the material development cycle. The results of materials characterization allow Swiftships to keep Total Ownership Cost (TOC) at the lowest for clients to get the best bang for their buck.

Bill of Materials (BOM). Allows Swiftships to supply customers with the right products at the right time and price. It helps improve accuracy, saves time, and keeps your customers satisfied. Additional features make Swiftships KoM so popular with developing militaries Defense Economic Base (DEB). Advantages of our service include:

• Serialized assemblies that contain materials and components
• Fully costed finished goods with component costs as well as labor costs
• Maintain accurate inventory quantities for future assemblies or raw materials.