Citation: Cui, X.; Lu, J.; Han, Y. A
Novel Unified Data Modeling
Method for Equipment Lifecycle
Integrated Logistics Support. Sensors
2022, 22, 4265. https://doi.org/
10.3390/s22114265
Academic Editor: Fabio Leccese
Received: 13 April 2022
Accepted: 31 May 2022
Published: 3 June 2022
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Article
A Novel Unified Data Modeling Method for Equipment
Lifecycle Integrated Logistics Support
Xuemiao Cui , Jiping Lu and Yafeng Han *
School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China;
3120185201@bit.edu.cn (X.C.); jipinglu@bit.edu.cn (J.L.)
* Correspondence: hanyafeng@bit.edu.cn
Abstract:
Integrated logistics support (ILS) is of great significance for maintaining equipment opera-
tional capability in the whole lifecycle. Numerous segments and complex product objects exist in the
process of equipment ILS, which gives ILS data multi-source, heterogeneous, and multidimensional
characteristics. The present ILS data cannot satisfy the demand for efficient utilization. Therefore,
the unified modeling of ILS data is extremely urgent and significant. In this paper, a unified data
modeling method is proposed to solve the consistent and comprehensive expression problem of ILS
data. Firstly, a four-tier unified data modeling framework is constructed based on the analysis of
ILS data characteristics. Secondly, the Core unified data model, Domain unified data model, and
Instantiated unified data model are built successively. Then, the expressions of ILS data in the three
dimensions of time, product, and activity are analyzed. Thirdly, the Lifecycle ILS unified data model
is constructed, and the multidimensional information retrieval methods are discussed. Based on
these, different systems in the equipment ILS process can share a set of data models and provide
ILS designers with relevant data through different views. Finally, the practical ILS data models are
constructed based on the developed unified data modeling software prototype, which verifies the
feasibility of the proposed method.
Keywords:
integrated logistics support; metadata; metamodel; unified data modeling;
multidimensional data model
1. Introduction
Equipment integrated logistics support (ILS) refers to the activities that comprehen-
sively consider various support problems of the equipment in order to satisfy the require-
ments of overall combat readiness and reduce support costs during the whole lifecycle [
1
,
2
].
In the design and manufacture stage, the equipment ILS tasks include support characteristic
requirements determination (such as reliability, maintainability, supportability, testabil-
ity, and environmental adaptability) [
3
,
4
], support characteristic design, support resource
planning, support system construction, etc. In the service stage, the equipment ILS tasks
contain a series of management and technical activities [
5
,
6
], such as equipment technical
status tracking, equipment maintenance requirements determination, maintenance strategy
formulation [7], etc.
With the development of science and technology, the information construction of
equipment logistics support has made substantial progress [
8
]. To meet practical needs, the
equipment logistics support departments have developed many information applications
and systems which provide a good technical foundation for equipment information support
and lifecycle management [
9
,
10
]. However, at present, the information systems used by var-
ious business departments are independent of each other, and multiple software/hardware
platforms coexist [
11
]. These lead to the problems such as scattered equipment support
information, heterogeneous data sources, and difficult data queries. The characteristics
mentioned above are not conducive to data management, mining, and analysis. As such,
Sensors 2022, 22, 4265. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22114265 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors
