Equipment Readiness Code Rule System (ERCRULES)

Abstract : Problem. Logistics readiness requires that a unit have the equipment and resources necessary to carry out its mission. The variety of equipment in a unit makes it critical to distinguish among those equipments which make an essential contribution to the mission and those which make an auxiliary or administrative contribution. Background. It was demonstrated in a prior prototype effort (Reference 1) that it is possible to meet the needs for systemization and automation using the emerging technology of expert systems. These systems provide expert advice by drawing upon an extensive set of rules dealing with factors which influence selection among alternatives such as equipment classification. Scope and Limitations. Changes in technology, doctrine, or force structure subsequent to the development of the system may generate new coding situations. These will have to be detected, and the rule system updated, by a system management process established for this purpose.