Emeka David Okaekwu,

University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

23 July 2013

Introduction

Logistics Elements

Integrated Logistics Support Plan - Input

Logistics Support Plan - Output

Management of Logistics Elements, availability, and life-cycle cost

Logistics engineering is an interesting field. It cuts across different facets ranging from supply chain (SC) in the commercial sector to what logistics is now in terms of integrated logistics support as seen in the defense sector. In the supply chain segment, it involves inbound and outbound logistics activities. Inbound logistics comprises material flow from suppliers to the manufacturers and outbound logistics entails the downstream flow of products from the manufacturers to the end users or customers. There is also the concept of reverse logistics which refers to the flow of materials from the end-user site to the manufacturers or a third party representative.

On the one hand, logistics is seen in the light of supply chain as described above, and on the other hand, logistics also have the side of maintenance and support activities which is geared towards ensuring that the system or product which has been designed and developed is fully utilized throughout its lifecycle. This is the concept of integrated logistic support (ILS). It is an amalgamation of some of the activities seen in the reverse logistics with that of the maintenance side. This is largely used in the defense sector as opposed to the commercial counterpart.

In this paper, we look at logistics wholly from a support perspective. The content of this paper is primarily based on developing an integrated logistics support plan (ILSP) for a chosen product, the customer premises equipment – A router to be precise; the ILSP is seen as input to the system; and also develop a logistic support plan (LSP), seen as the output from the system.

Supply support – Spares and repair parts, Training and training support, Logistics, maintenance and support

personnel, Technical data and documentation, Facilities support and utilities, Test equipment and support, Warehousing (Distribution), Standardization and interoperability.

Basic Logistics Elements (Source: B.S. Blanchard, Logistics Engineering and Management, 6th Ed., Prentice Hall, NJ, 2004, Figure 1.5).

To ensure effective support of the product (CPE), we develop an integrated logistics support plan (ILSP) for the full life-cycle of the product. This is achieved through developing the logistics element plan. Figure below shows the ILSP development as exemplified by Blanchard (2004).

Development of integrated logistics support plan (Source: B.S. Blanchard, Logistics Engineering and Management, 6th Ed., Prentice Hall, NJ, 2004).

Product RequirementsProduct Requirements

Training planTraining plan

Integrated Logistics Support PlanIntegrated Logistics Support Plan

Maintenance PlanningMaintenance Planning Management PlanningManagement Planning

Technical data and documentation planTechnical data and documentation plan

Supply support planSupply support plan

Distribution and Customer Support planDistribution and Customer Support plan

Test equipment and support planTest equipment and support plan

Facilities and utilities planFacilities and utilities plan

Handling / storage planHandling / storage plan

Technical requirements Management requirements

The logistics support plan is the output from the logistics support infrastructure. At this juncture, the product and the logistics support has been developed and the product has been deployed at user site. To support this product (CPE), we develop a logistics support plan as shown in the diagram below

LOGISTICS SUPPORT PLAN - CONT

Logistics support plan (LSP) development

Product Ready and in useProduct Ready and in use

Training planTraining plan

Logistics Support PlanLogistics Support Plan

Maintenance PlanningMaintenance Planning Management PlanningManagement Planning

Technical data and documentation planTechnical data and documentation plan

Supply support planSupply support plan

Reporting plan Reporting plan

Test equipment and support planTest equipment and support planFacilities and utilities

planFacilities and utilities plan

Total Quality Management PlanTotal Quality Management Plan

Customer Support planCustomer Support planConfiguration Management planConfiguration Management plan

Logistics elements are managed through: Configuration management, Total quality management, Project management, Acquisition of the right resources for support

Availability and life-cycle cost are managed thorough: Proper planning for logistics support in all phases, Incorporation of appropriate supportability characteristics

during the support phase, Identification, and timely acquisition of support elements

required for product operation and maintenance, Continuous assessment of the overall effectiveness of the

product throughout its life-cycle, and initiation of modifications for corrective action or product improvement

as stipulated Blanchard (2004).