A shop repair order (SRO) is the transportation equivalent of the specific job order. It is initiated by the control section inspector/estimator or other specifically authorized personnel designated by the equipment maintenance branch supervisor. It is the authorizing document, estimating form, and cost control record of maintenance expenditures. Repair costs are estimated in advance to ensure that costs stay within economic limitations and to provide a standard against which to measure job performance and productivity of the mechanics. Estimates for transportation repairs are taken from commercial

Flat Rate Manuals or estimating guides. Labor costs and material costs are logged on the SRO by shop personnel, and the completed document then serves as a principal source of data for transportation reports and analysis.

DEPTH OF MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND OVERHAUL

The depth of maintenance, repair, and overhaul is governed by many factors, mainly economics. The goal is to provide the best service available at the least possible costs.

The geographic location of an activity has a great influence on the depth of maintenance, repair, and overhaul that a maintenance shop must perform. Maintenance costs must compare with national standards. It is easy to see that an activity near a large city, where many repair services are available at commercial shops, is limited as to the type of repairs allowed. Because of the large volume of work, many of these specialized commercial shops can perform services at a reduced cost. When the commercial shop is nearby, there are no appreciable transportation or shipping costs to be added to the cost of repairs. On the other hand, an activity located a great distance from commercial sources of repair services and supplies would be able to justify doing its own major repairs because of the time, need, and shipping charges involved in having the work performed outside.

The size of an activity also governs the amount and depth of maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. Here, volume is the determining factor that reduces the maintenance cost to a level comparable to that of available commercial facilities.

COST JUSTIFICATION

The Navy system of preventive maintenance, implemented by the cost control system with its accounting procedures and reports, is a continuing justification for the transportation maintenance shop's existence. Costs must be justified unless the work is highly classified or the geographical location is extreme.

Remember that needed repairs alone do not justify repair by the service maintenance shop.

PRESERVATION, STORAGE, AND DEPRESERVATION OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

There is more to storing vehicles and equipment than merely driving them into open areas, warehouses, or active storage. The process of preparing vehicles and equipment for storage is complex. It is important that you consider all components of the equipment, as well as the basic unit, to ensure efficient operation with a minimum amount of work after storage. The objective of preservation and storage is to provide efficient and economical protection to components and equipment from environmental and mechanical damage during handling, shipment, and storage from the time of original purchase until they are used. NAVFAC P-434, Management and Operations Manual for Construction Equipment Departments, chapters 8 and 9 and appendix E, contains the standards and guides for equipment preservation.

The three levels of preserving and packaging equipment for storage are A, B, and C.

Level A is that level of preservation that will protect adequately against corrosion, deterioration, and physical damage during shipment, handling, indeterminate storage, and worldwide redistribution.

Level B is the degree of preservation and packaging that will protect adequately against known conditions less hazardous than A. Level B should be based on firmly established knowledge of the shipment and storage conditions and a determination that money will be saved. This level requires a higher degree of protection