The analysis of complex systems through modeling and simulation optimizes their performance, availability, and costs throughout their lifecycle. More than 60-70% of the total ownership cost of a system stems from its operational maintenance (MCO). Over the past two decades, major stakeholders have focused on operational availability while integrating lifecycle costs. This approach, known as Integrated Logistics Support (ILS), accounts for development, maintenance, refurbishment, and decommissioning costs.

Gradually, the industry has shifted from a focus on effectiveness to efficiency, aiming to optimize every stage of the lifecycle. Advances in support engineering, facilitated by dedicated tools, have enhanced the reliability, maintainability, and availability of systems during the design phase. However, significant room for improvement remains, especially as budgets grow tighter, making it essential to target availability that meets actual needs.

The U.S. concept of Performance Based Logistics (PBL) exemplifies this approach. By clearly defining the responsibilities of MCO actors, it aims for optimal performance while controlling costs. The era of abundant stockpiles to ensure maximum availability is over. Today, the focus is on delivering the right support, at the right time, at the optimal cost.

To achieve these goals, support engineering now benefits from specialized digital tools. These solutions outperform traditional Excel files, providing more suitable analyses, simulations, and optimizations for complex systems. Industrial players and operators now have the means to monitor performance and costs across the entire lifecycle.

In the digital transformation era, these tools help build robust support architectures with better-controlled financial impacts. Major stakeholders increasingly demand evidence of cost-effective performance. Companies like SAFRAN, in partnership with SYSTECON, have adopted solutions such as the OPUS® suite, widely used across the sector, to enhance their MCO capabilities and meet these rising demands efficiently.