Defence Guidance and Improvement

Our services range from the performance management of live firing ranges for the Swedish Armed Forces to evaluating welding technology to increase the affordability of US Navy ships. By combining innovative thinking and technical know-how, we continue to develop new and novel ways of resolving operational issues faced by defence organisations around the world. Swedish Live Firing and Gallery Ranges BMT provides an in-service monitoring and reporting service for all Swedish armed forces live firing and gallery ranges. The service quantifies range and asset utilisation and availability, as well as providing a Data Reporting and Corrective Action System (DRACAS). Our service is based on BMT’s RAMtr@ck data and analysis tool which provides constant visibility of equipment performance and its upkeep. In-service Performance Monitoring and Management BMT RAMtr@ck is the data collection and analysis tool of choice for training and simulation exercises run by the UK MOD’s Maritime Training Systems (MTS) and Sweden’s Combat Vehicle and Battalion training systems. It provides accurate, real-time, information on the training systems’ performance, allowing any failures or deficiencies to be identified and repaired immediately. Defence Support Chain Operations and Movements (DSCOM) When DSCOM, which manages the defence support chain and the UK MOD’s transportation assets, relocated to Abbey Wood, Bristol, it asked BMT to carry out a process review to identify and reduce organisational inefficiencies. We made a number of recommendations and gave DSCOM a baseline to seek continuous improvement by reducing costs and waste and increasing efficiency. US Coast Guard Cutter Boat Maintenance By changing the maintenance philosophy of the boats attached to US Coast Guard Cutters, BMT has increased their operational availability and reduced maintenance costs. Traditionally, the boats were assigned to specific cutters, which meant they were lost to the service while the cutter was in refit. Under BMT’s management, boats are retrieved from cutters during maintenance and brought to a centralised pool. This means that reconditioned and fully-operational boats are available at 24 hours notice. Submarine In-Service Support BMT’s expert submarine team is providing management resources, leadership and engineering expertise to support the UK Royal Navy’s submarine fleet and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria Class submarine. Working alongside Babcock, the in-service support contractor for both Navies, BMT supports the establishment of a sustainable capability to cost- effectively design, develop and execute engineering change and provide robust through life support for these submarine fleets. Maritime Equipment Program Management (MEPM) BMT developed an ‘Integrated Program View’ to support the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) Maritime Strategic Initiative (MSI). This ongoing multi-year program allows MEPM to understand dynamically what is and what is not achievable for them to deliver both through the use of IPV and by inculcating a planning culture into MEPM such that objective quality evidence can be drawn to support decisions that will benefit the multiple stakeholders in MEPM and the wider DND. BMT is establishing a program team and providing leadership and expertise to re-establish the Naval Material Assurance (NMA) processes and support. ICE Welding Technology Evaluation BMT evaluated the use of ICE welding technology to allow stronger, thinner and lighter steels to be used during construction of US Navy ships. The heat from conventional submerged arc welding can distort the thinner steels, adding an extra 30% to the fabrication costs. BMT showed that ICE welding can successfully be applied to thinner steels without distorting them. Operations improvement BMT has a thorough understanding of the requirements for keeping military assets operational at sea, on land and in the air. This is built on our expertise in this area, our commitment to research and innovation, and the fact that many of our key personnel have armed forces experience.