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1 1 Aviation University of Air Force Changchun, P.R.China
2 School of Optical and Electronic Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology Changchun, P.R.China
3 Fundamental Engineering Department of Research and Development Center Changchun Railway Vehicles Corporation Limited
( a wangxiaokun_yanyan@163.com)
Abstract In this paper, the application of reliability engineering management on the design, manufacture, operation and maintenance process of a certain type of military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator has been studied with a view to improve its reliability, reduce the number of its failures. The methods and measures adopted during the reliability engineering management effectively improve the ability of continuing work and complete tasks of the simulator, and then reduce it’s operation and support cost greatly.
Keywords - Military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator, reliability, reliability engineering, reliable engineering management
I. INTRODUCTION
Military transport aircraft maintenance training simulators as a hardware-in-the-loop simulation system can simulate military transport aircraft flight condition and working states, replicate real flight dynamic processes, simulate ground maintenance training and fault detection and elimination program. It can provide realistic emulation of vision, manipulation, audio, equipment operating status and movement sensation, furthermore, it also able to simulate special circumstances in the real flight and dangerous fault handling procedures. And compared with actual maintenance training, it can improve the training efficiency without restriction of the season and the weather. Now it has become widely used in international aviation, is recognized as the most effective means of training aircraft observer and ground maintenance personnel skills.
At present, military transport aircraft maintenance training simulators has gain a fast development than civil transport aircraft maintenance training simulators in
China, but there is a relatively gap between China and other developed countries on the technical indicators of reliability, maintainability, supportability. As an important quality characteristic the reliability is a vital factor to determine the performance and the life cycle cost of the transport aircraft maintenance simulator. So it is crucial to take reliability engineering management in the life cycle of the transport aircraft maintenance simulator.
II. THE CONNOTATION OF RELIABILITY
ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
The goal of reliability engineering is to ensure and improve product reliability and maintainability. Under given resource constraints reliability engineering can correct and control accidental failures, prevent and eradicate inevitable failures in the course of the whole life cycle of the products. Reliability engineering is involved in product design, prototype, test, setting the production, storage, use, maintenance, until the whole process of end of life. [1] National military standard GJB450-88 defines reliability engineering as following that “Reliability engineering is a series of work includes design, testing and production and so on, with the purpose to achieve the reliability.” The basic tasks of reliability engineering can be summed up to determine and obtain the product reliability.
The reliability as inherent characteristics of equipment is formed through a series of engineering activities, such as design, manufacturing and so on, which need to be reasonably organized and supervised. Reliability management is to make an effective organization, coordination and supervision of these activities in the life cycle of equipment from the system point of view, to achieve the established reliability goals and the most efficient life cycle costs. [2]
Reliability management includes: developing reliability programs and other documents, monitoring the production process and program evaluation, building failure reports, analyzing and improving the system; establishing failure inspection team, collecting reliability data and implement reliability education, etc. [3] The role of reliability management in the reliability engineering is as shown in
Fig . 1.
Reliability management can make various aspects of reliability engineering operate effectively. Through process of equipment life-cycle planning, reliability work organizing, all research staff coordinating and monitoring, reliability management will fully display its role in equipment life-cycle process, hence get optimal life-cycle cost.

Analysis
Design
Management Mnufacture
Test
Fig. 1. Role of reliability management in the reliability engineering
III. THE RELIABILITY ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT PROCESS OF THE MILITARY
TRANSPORTATION AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
TRAINING SIMULATOR
The military transportation aircraft maintenance training simulator as large and technically complex hardware-software integrated equipment involves a wide range of professional fields and integrates mechanicalelectronic-hydraulic technology, which reliability engineering management is a system engineering project .The detailed process of reliability engineering management is as shown in Fig.2.
A.
Reliability Management of the Design Phase
Reliability management in the design phase is the key and basis of the whole reliability management process. [4]
In the design phase some basic work should be included: drawing out reliability management objectives, developing and implementing reliability control programs, reviewing and evaluating the reliability of the design, etc.
During implementation the reliability management objectives should be primarily drawn according to reliability requirements of the simulator, then development and implementation of the reliability control program and organization of the reviewing and evaluating to the reliability of the design should be put in practice.
B.
Reliability Management of the Manufacture Phase
The reliability management in the design phase establishes a foundation to the implementation of the military transport maintenance simulator reliability. The reliability management in the manufacturing phase is to ensure the realization of the simulator reliability goal.
The ultimate object of the reliability management during manufacturing phase is to master, evaluate and control the factors affecting the reliability of transport aircraft simulator in the process of machining, assembly, handling, storage and transportation, in order to fulfill design reliability requirements. The reliability management tasks of manufacturing stage include: manufacturing-site management, process quality management, supervision and control to the manufacturers, contractors and suppliers, management to the tests and experimentation.
Drawing out reliability management objectives
Design
Developing and implementing reliability control program
Reviewing and evaluating design reliability
Use
Mnufacture
Management of the manufacture-site
Management of the process quality
Supervising and monitoring of the manufacturers, contractors and suppliers
Management of the test and experiment
Collection and exchange of the reliability data
Management of the maintenance
Management of the operation
Fig.2. Flowchart of transport simulator reliability engineering management
C.
Reliability Management of the Use Phase
Inherent reliability given to the transport maintenance training simulator in the phase of design and manufacture will declined and degrade due to various factors, such as transportation, storage, use, maintenance, etc. Therefore, reliability management implementation in the use phase will ensure a more effective long-term stable operation while maintaining the initial reliability level.
The reliability management tasks of manufacturing stage include: collection, exchange and feedback of reliability data, management of maintenance, management of operation.
IV. RESEARCH AND THEORY APPLICATION OF
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT ON A
CERTAIN TYPE OF MILITARY TRANSPORT
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TRAINING
SIMULATOR
Reliability management process in the development, production and using of a certain type of military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator is basically similar to general product development process.
The reliability management should be taken in a practical, scientific and rational way to the design, manufacture and use of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator consequently.

A.
Establishment of the Reliability Regulatory Agencies
The reliability regulatory agency is placed under the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator development unit and is supervised by the unit’s key leaders. Many of the personnel who not only familiar with design and manufacturing but also master the knowledge of the reliability are appointed in the reliability agencies.
The personnel include reliability designers, reliability managers, reliability information collectors, reliability supervisors. Some of them will be responsible for developing reliability management policy and plan, organizing, coordinating and supervising relevant departments to implement the tasks identified in the reliability program, others will take responsibility for design review, quality certification and unified management of components, collection and feedback of the reliability data and information.
B.
Reliability Management Measures in the Design
Phase of the Military Transport Aircraft Maintenance
Training Simulator
The reliability indices are determined according to the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator demander’s reliability requirements, which are reference to the development of the reliability management project program. Furthermore, “Reliability Engineering Program” is developed by the chief engineer and director, the timeline of the start and the stop date will be definitely set in the program. The reliability management priorities, chart important events and relevant inspection, sampling and testing methods will also be formulated in this phase.
C.
Implementation and Development of the Reliability
Work Plan
In order to scientifically and efficiently implement reliability management and realize reliability management goals, the work plan of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator was developed in phases according to development procedures and reliability requirements.
Main contents of the reliability work plan included: clear reliability requirements and requirements of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator, implementing regulations of reliability work project, establishing principles and corresponding responsibilities of reliability management departments, detailed resource plan of personnel, organization and funds budget to ensure a smooth implementation of the reliability management. In addition, a detailed description of the coordination between reliability management department and design, manufacture department was included in it.
The acquisition approach, delivery methods and procedures of required reliability data were also given in it.
D.
Reliability Evaluation of the Design
Because a large number of new programs, new technologies, new equipment and new components were adopted in both software design and hardware development of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator, which would lead to high reliability risk, therefore, a rigorous evaluation to the design of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator was implemented, which was an important part of reliability management ensuring the reliability of the simulator.
Review and evaluation of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator design have been taken by phases according to reliability design and evaluation requirements.
Experts of professional standing and experience in the field of reliability who have not directly participated in the project plan have been widely invited to review and assess the progress and implementation of the reliability plan, analysis the main factors affecting the reliability of the simulator and develop corrective and improvement measures during each review and assessment. Hence advanced experiences and modern technology would be a timely and effective supplementation to the plan and design program of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator.
E. Reliability Management Measures of the
Manufacturing Phase
Reliability management measures in the manufacturing phase of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator included: carrying out a rigorous training, theory and operation assessment to the design and manufacturing personnel, replenishing and perfecting the currently personal responsibility system of implementing personal responsibility and practicing competition and going on duty, developing quality record keeping system in order to strengthening precision management of manufacture site and the process, developing a strict quality inspection system and methods of materials, components and final products, establishing management system of tools, onsite fixtures and measurement instruments. In addition, the effective measures to relevant manufacturers, contractors and suppliers were: decomposed and assigned specific and quantified reliability responsibilities to them, made clear reliability requirements to all of the parts and components supplied by them, put an emphasis on supervision and control to acceptance and inspection to them.
F. Reliability Management Measures of the Military
Transport Aircraft Maintenance Training Simulator
During Using Phase
Considered the actual needs of equipment maintenance training, serials measures have been adopted after the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator

equipped to the military unit, contributing to high reliability and low maintenance costs during the using stage.
1) The operating management measures of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator:
To ensure a normal operation of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator, have assisted the military unit in organizing training courses for operating personnel to learn the skills, taboos of operation, to guide them to understand the ultimate bearing capacity of the operating mechanism before the simulator equipped.
Real-time practice indirection and training have been implemented after the simulator equipped. These effective measures will ensure that the simulator maintain a high reliability of using.
2) The Maintenance management measures of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator:
To reduce maintenance cost and time, increase remediation efficiency, a series of effective measures have been taken during the maintenance of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator, which included developing appropriate maintenance policy, planning and acceptance criteria and method according to the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator use requirements and potential fault analysis, supervising the maintenance operation, establishing effective systems of organization and management, organizing training of technical personnel for operation, maintenance and management, perfecting regulations, duties and responsibilities of maintainers, strengthening recording data and times of inspections, tests and repairs, together with their disposition, to assist learning and to provide scientific data for analysis and improvement design.
3) The collection and feedback of the reliability information: Emphasis had been placed on data collection during operation and maintenance of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator. The combination of pertinently and designedly visiting customers, on-site information collection, analysis and special research has been adopted in the reliability information collection. A strict accountability and management system has been established, which specified the departments, units and personnel responsibilities in information collection, verification, analysis, processing, transmission and feedback. By setting goals, organization and implementation, supervision and inspection, the closedloop control of data and information effectively ensured the training units for the full collection and using of the reliability data and information.
V. CONCLUSION
Reliability management is assurance approaches to military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator reliability project. System reliability is directly dependent on the degree of recognition to reliability requirements and management. [5] After a series of effective reliability management measures implemented, mean time between failures (MTBF) of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator is greater than 22 hours, available utilization rate can reach higher than 98%, higher than the reliability index requirements, in which the MTBF of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator is greater than 20 hours, and in which the available utilization rate higher than 96%, verified the effectiveness of the reliability engineering management on improving the reliability of the military transport aircraft maintenance training simulator.
R EFERENCES
[1] Zheng-fa Zhou. Reliability Engineering Foundation.
Astronautics Press, 1999, pp. 137-156
[2] Yun-yi Ma, Bing-quan Xu and Ke-zhang Sun. Application of Reliability Technology. National Defense Industry Press,
1996, pp. 25-26
[3] Ying-xiao Qin, Ming-de Zhou and Yan Yong. Reliability,
Maintainability, Supportability Studies. National Defense
Industry Press, 2002, pp. 112
[4] Wen-feng Guo, Ming Liu. Analysis on weaponry quality and reliability management. Science and Technology
Information ,2008, No. 18, pp. 72
[5] U.S. military standard MIL-STD-785. “Reliability
Requirements for Systems and Equipment.”