combat  systems,  subsystems,  and  individual  equip- ment  manuals)  is  an  integral  part  of  the  PMS.  These manuals  provide  the  necessary  information  for  under- standing,  operating,  and  maintaining  combat  systems. Shipboard  maintenance  falls  into  three  categories: (1)  maintenance  within  the  capability  of  ship  person- nel   (organizational   level);   (2)   maintenance   requiring assistance  from  outside  the  ship  (intermediate  level), such  as  tender  or  fleet  technical  support  centers;  and (3)  maintenance  requiring  port  facilities  (depot  level), such  as  shipyard  maintenance.  Since  the  objective  of the  PMS  is  to  perform  maintenance  at  the  organiza- tional  or  intermediate  level,  it  does  not  reflect  depot- level  maintenance.  Combat  systems  readiness  requires efficient  maintenance.  The  key  to  this  capability  is  an organized  system  of  planned  maintenance  that  is designed   to   ensure   the   maximum   operational   readi- ness  of  the  combat  systems. This   section   describes   the   PMS   objective,   the maintenance  scheduling  and  data  system,  and  the  inte- grated  maintenance. PMS   OBJECTIVE The  PMS  objective  is  to  maximize  operational  ef- ficiency  of  all  equipment  and  to  reduce  downtime, maintenance   man-hours,   and   maintenance   costs.   Al- though   the   PMS   provides   methods   and   resources   to accomplish  each  objective,  it  is  not  self-sufficient  and does  not  replace  the  initiative  of  maintenance  super- visors  nor  does  it  reduce  the  necessity  for  technically competent   personnel.   Recording   and   providing   feed- back   of   maintenance   and   personnel   data   allow   con- tinuing  management  analysis  for  the  improvement  of maintenance   methods   and   personnel   management. Full  use  of  the  planning  methods,  along  with  the  ac- ceptance   and   cooperation   of   technicians,   supervisors, and   management   personnel,   produces   a   maintenance system   with   the   inherent   confidence,   reliability,   and capability  to  help  achieve  maximum  combat  systems readiness. A  sampling  of  data  gathered  from  the  fleet  shows conclusively  that  those  ships  that  adhere  to  their  PMS schedules  maintain  a  significantly  higher  state  of  ma- terial   readiness   with   no   greater   maintenance   man- power  usage  than  those  ships  that  do  not  adhere  to their   PMS   schedules. The  primary  ingredients  of  the  PMS  program  are 1. 2. 3. 4. comprehensive   procedures   for   planned   main- tenance  of  the  combat  systems,  subsystems, and   equipment; system  fault-isolation  procedures; maintenance  task  performance  scheduling  and control;   and methods,   materials,   tools   descriptions,   and personnel   required   for   maintenance. Adherence  to  the  PMS  program  will  produce 1. 2. 3. 4. improved   confidence   in   system   maintenance, reduced   testing   time, elimination   of   redundant   testing   resulting from   uncoordinated   testing,   and detection  of  most  malfunctions  during  sched- uled   maintenance   events. MAINTENANCE  SCHEDULING The  normal  flow  of  events  that  maintenance  man- agers  use  in  developing  an  integrated  maintenance schedule   is   shown   in   figure   1-1.   This   figure   shows maintenance   management   responsibilities   and   the sequence   of   events   that   flow   from   the   department master  and  work-center  PMS  record  books  through the   scheduling   aids   to   test   execution,   unscheduled maintenance,   and   reporting. 1-2