1 Military Standard 1388

The US approach to ILS was based in Military Standard (Mil Std) 1388 parts 1A and 2B ⁽²⁾. However, in recent years this Standard has fallen into disrepute mainly under pressure from US Industry. The perception from US Industry is that ILS implemented within a Mil Std 1388 structure is too prescriptive and the programme benefits are difficult to quantify. On both sides of the Atlantic the acquisition communities have adopted a 'systems approach' to acquisition and it has become clear that Mil Std 1388 does not align itself easily with that philosophy. The systems approach requires a more flexible methodology that enables a variety of support options to be explored in the pursuit of cost-effectiveness. Recently, Mil Std 1388 Part 1A has been replaced by Military Handbook 502 - Acquisition Logistics Handbook.

N.B. The US move from a Standard to a Handbook is significant in that it moves from the mandatory application of a Standard to the guidance offered by the Handbook.

2 Defence Standard 00-60

Defence Standard (Def Stan) 00-60 ⁽³⁾ is the current UK equivalent of Mil Std 1388. The Standard is still in use and invoked by many if not all of the UK MOD acquisition contracts; however, it is also heavily criticised by Industry for being too prescriptive, expensive and unwieldy. The systems approach to acquisition did not in itself undermine the credibility of Def Stan 00-60 but the document is now the subject of proposed revisions as a result of the Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS) initiative. PLCS will impose defined data exchange standards on defence contractors and it is still unclear if those new standards are compatible with the current Def Stan 00-60 processes.

3 ILS

One of the accepted leaders in the field of ILS is James V Jones and his Integrated Logistics Support Handbook ⁽⁴⁾ is the reference book of choice for many ILS practitioners. The approach expounded in the handbook is structured and there is no doubt that if it were followed then all ILS issues would have been addressed by the time the system or equipment is brought into service. However, Jones pre-dates the tendency to include Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) items in design solutions, Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) as a support solution and appears to apply ILS without taking a realistic commercial view of the implementation costs.

4 Systems Engineering

The leading systems engineering 'guru' is Benjamin S Blanchard, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech. He has shaped systems thinking through his books System Engineering Management ⁽⁵⁾ and Systems Engineering and Analysis⁽⁵⁾, which he wrote in conjunction with Walter J Fabrycky. Much of the systems thinking being applied within MoD today originate from these two reference volumes.

 Down 

US Department of Defense Military Standard 1388 Parts 1A & 2B. Back to Text

Ministry of Defence, Defence Standard 00-60. Back to Text

Jones JV, (1987) Integrated Logistics Support Handbook, McGraw-Hill. Back to Text

Blanchard BS (1998) System Engineering Management, Prentice-Hall. Back to Text

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last update:  December 27, 2004