Downloaded from https://www.everyspec.com MIL-HDBK-502: A MIL-HDBK-502: A CQUISITION CQUISITION L OGISTICS OGISTICS 6.2.1 Integration Of Acquisition Logistics Into The Systems Engineering Process During the systems engineering process, operational needs are analyzed and various design concepts are proposed. Those concepts are then synthesized, evaluated, and optimized. The culmination of this process is definition of the best design. Unfortunately, acquisition logistics (supportability) objectives often conflict with other design objectives like speed, range, size, etc. How is this inevitable conflict resolved?
Early in the process, the issue of tradeoffs must be raised during the analysis of proposed concepts. Careful use of tradeoff studies will guide the engineers and the logisticians in finding the optimal design—one which balances design objectives with supportability requirements. Tradeoffs are an essential part of the design process. The result of this early collaboration between engineering and logistics personnel is a specification that prescribes performance requirements to be achieved. The challenge is to ensure that supportability is integrated into the program from the beginning phases.
The early design phases of a project, when things change rapidly, may seem of little interest to logisticians, and their attendance at engineering design reviews may seem a waste of time. Actually this period has far reaching logistics impact. During this phase the logisticians can use the leverage of early program involvement to identify approaches that will significantly lower life cycle costs. They may be able to catch an exorbitantly expensive material or time-consuming maintenance process before it has become integrated into the system. The following example is illustrative:
During an early design review of a satellite system, the logistician on the team noted that a system component was to be fabricated from beryllium. Although this strong light metal was a logical design choice, the logistician was aware that it is a hazardous material. Using it would require special handling. After he raised the issue, the engineers agreed that a heavier but non-hazardous material should be used instead. Logisticians must be prepared to defend the logistics support concepts and supportability design requirements that they propose, not only from the logistics community’s point of view, but also from the engineering point of view.
They must constantly keep the readiness requirements in mind. The value of teamwork from the earliest stages of a project is that each group has the other’s concerns in mind. Cooperation and mutual understanding save time and money. 6-6