PROPOSAL FOR COMBINING AGENT-BASED MODELS DEVELOPMENTWITH PROBLEM STRUCTURING METHODSFOR AIRCRAFT CONDITION-BASEDMAINTENANCE

Resumo

The aircraft maintenance is a complex system and there is a trend for shifting from pre-determined maintenance to Condition-based Maintenance (CBM). The use of modeling and simulation is an alternative in this scenario where there is a need for decision support from strategic to operational aspects.  Agent-based Modeling (ABM), that is a bottom-up modeling approach centered in agents, can be an alternative in the simulation of complex systems.   However, given a situation with multiple stakeholders, multiple perspectives, intangible aspects and relevant uncertainties, methods that support the problem structuring are necessary.  Problem Structuring Methods (PSM) and facilitated modeling can improve the stakeholder’s engagement and can provide a clearer vision of the problem that the model will address.  This work proposes a model for combining PSMs with ABM for an aircraft CBM application.  The proposed multimethodology model use case partial results show that it can improve the stakeholder’s engagement and the definition of the goals and boundaries of the ABM model.