Research Article

Dynamic analysis of combat vehicle accidents

  1. Nathan A. Minami1,
  2. Stuart Madnick2

Article first published online: 26 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1002/sdr.415

Issue

System Dynamics Review

System Dynamics Review

Volume 25, Issue 2, pages 79–100, April/June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Minami, N. A. and Madnick, S. (2009), Dynamic analysis of combat vehicle accidents. System Dynamics Review, 25: 79–100. doi: 10.1002/sdr.415

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Systems Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10997, U.S.A.

  2. 2

    Sloan School of Management and School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. (E51-321), Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, U.S.A.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 26 MAY 2009
  2. Article first published online: 26 MAY 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted:
  4. Manuscript Received:

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (899K)

Abstract

To the chagrin of well-intentioned Army leaders, dozens of soldiers are killed each year as a result of combat vehicle accidents. The objective of this study is to look beyond the events and symptoms of accidents which normally indicate human error, and instead study the upper-level organizational processes and problems that constitute the actual root causes of accidents. After a short review of the literature we report on our development of a system dynamics model. We then discuss the results of several simulations; these suggest that high-level decisions that balance mission rate and operations tempo with troop availability, careful management of the work–rest cycle for deployed troops, and improvement of the processes for evaluating the lessons learned from accidents would lead to a reduction in Army combat vehicle accidents. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Get PDF (899K)