Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+)
DAU GLOSSARY DEFINITION
The application and integration of appropriate processes, technologies, and knowledge based capabilities to improve the reliability and maintenance effectiveness of DoD systems and components. At its core, CBM+ is maintenance performed on evidence of need provided by RCM analysis and other enabling processes. CBM+ uses a systems engineering approach to collect data, enable analysis, and support the decision-making processes for system acquisition, sustainment, and operations.
According to DoD Instruction 4151.22, Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) for Materiel Maintenance, the purpose of CBM+ is to be an essential readiness enabler and a primary strategy for achieving cost-effective weapon system life cycle sustainment.
The DoD Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) Guidebook indicates that CBM+ includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:
- Hardware—system health monitoring and management using embedded sensors; integrated data bus.
- Software—decision support and analysis capabilities both on and off equipment; appropriate use of diagnostics and prognostics; automated maintenance information generation and retrieval.
- Design—open system architecture; integration of maintenance and logistics information systems; interface with operational systems; designing systems that require minimum maintenance; enabling maintenance decisions based on equipment condition.
- Processes—Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) analysis; a balance of corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance processes; trend-based reliability and process improvements; integrated information systems providing logistics system response; Continuous Process Improvement (CPI); Serialized Item Management.
- Communications—databases; off-board interactive communication links.
- Tools—integrated electronic technical manuals (i.e., digitized data) (IETMs); automatic identification technology (AIT); item-unique identification (IUID); portable maintenance aids (PMAs); embedded, data-based, interactive training.
- Functionality—low-ambiguity fault detection, isolation, and prediction; optimized maintenance requirements and reduced logistics support footprints; configuration management and asset visibility.
Goals of CBM+
According to the DoD CBM+ Guidebook, CBM+ represents a continuous development of maintenance processes and procedures that improve capabilities, practices, and technologies. CBM+ is a part of the transformation of maintenance practices from the Industrial Age to the Information Age through the appropriate use of emerging technologies to analyze near-real-time and historical weapon systems data to provide a predictive maintenance capability. The challenge of CBM+ is to provide tangible effects to DoD operations across all categories of equipment.
CBM+ is an opportunity to improve business processes, with the principal objective being improved maintenance performance across a broad range of benefits, including greater productivity, shorter maintenance cycles, lower costs, increased quality of the process, better availability, and enhanced reliability of materiel resources.
DoD Instruction 4151.22 established policy and guidance for the Military Departments and Defense Agencies for implementation of CBM+ pursuant to DoD Directive 4151.18 “Maintenance of Military Materiel”.
Finally, according to DoDI 5000.91, Product Support Management for the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, the Product Support Manager (PSM) has a significant role in systems engineering requirements, design, and maintenance planning, which includes the system's CBM+ architecture. As a life-cycle activity, the PSM "will collaborate with the lead systems engineer, who is responsible for executing a comprehensive reliability and maintainability program, to ensure implementation of reliability and maintainability through design, development, test, production, and sustainment." (para. 4.2).
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Materiel Readiness, DASD(MR), maintains a CBM+ site which states, "CBM+ is a collaborative DoD readiness initiative focused on the development and implementation of data analysis and sustainment technology capabilities to improve weapon system availability and achieve optimum costs across the enterprise." The site includes links to policy and guidance, as well as the following:
- CBM+ Charter
- CBM+ Plan
- CBM+ Brochure
- Working Integrated Product Team (WIPT)
PSMs should consider a system's CBM+ capability contribution to military readiness regarding the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF). The RSF is a DoD initiative aimed at empowering a globally connected, distributed, and resilient Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem bringing existing and future weapon system MRO capability closer to the forward point of need. The RSF is intended to meet DoD objectives to prevail in Contested Logistics Environments, enhance military readiness, and strengthen regional partnerships. In terms of military readiness, the RSF leverages predictive maintenance and advanced analytics for repair scheduling and could indicate the need to expand MRO capacity or establish new MRO activities where needed.
In Dec 2022, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published report GAO-23-105556, "Military Readiness: Actions Needed to Further Implement Predictive Maintenance on Weapon System." The report includes 16 recommendations for the Military Services to implement predictive maintenance and assess its performance.
Note: For Service-specific information, in addition to the links below to OPNAVINST 4790.16B and AR 750-1, please consult Marine Corps Order 4151.22 and the CBM+ support to Air Force programs provided by the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office.
To view a discussion of Department of the Army, Navy, and Air Force CBM+ SMEs discuss the latest on CBM+ initiatives, view the 2024 Product Support Delta Course Lesson 4 recording here.
For training on CBM+ and Predictive Maintenance, recommend completing the following courses: