Prioritization of stockpile maintenance with layered Pareto fronts

Difficult choices are required for a decision-making process where resources and budgets are increasingly constrained. This article demonstrates a structured decision-making approach using layered Pareto fronts to identify priorities about how to allocate funds between munitions stockpiles based on their estimated reliability, the urgency of needing available units, and the consequences if adequate numbers of units are not available. This case study, while specific to the characteristics of a group of munitions stockpiles, illustrates the general process of structured decision-making based on first identifying appropriate metrics that summarize the important dimensions of the decision, and then objectively eliminating non-contenders from further consideration. The final subjective stage incorporates user priorities to select the four stockpiles to receive additional maintenance and surveillance funds based on understanding the trade-offs and robustness to various user priorities.