TABLE OF CONTENTS Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) can be defined as:
The disciplined, unified, and iterative approach to management, engineering, and technical activities necessary integrate support considerations into system and equipment design; develop support requirements that are related consistently to readiness objectives, to design, and to each other; acquire the required support; and provide the required support at minimum Life Cycle Cost (LCC).
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
ILS is an inherent part of the up-front system engineering process. It involves efforts to design, introduce, and sustain systems/components that conform to the capabilities and limitations of military and civilian personnel who use and maintain those systems. It also includes efforts to improve logistics standardization and interoperability within other corporations/companies, manufacturers, military services, and allied nations. It is a management function intended to provide planning, funding, and program control. The goals of ILS are to:
Seek readiness and cost improvements throughout the operational life-cycle
Integrate support requirements into system design and/or selection
Define support requirements and readiness objectives
Provide required support at minimal cost
Develop and acquire required support
All elements of ILS must be coordinated during the system engineering effort. Tradeoffs may be required between each element to acquire a system that is affordable, operable, supportable, sustainable and transportable using available resources.
The Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) elements are:
Computer Resources
Design Interface
Facilities
Maintenance Planning
Manpower and Personnel
Packaging, Handling, Storage, and Transportation (PHS & T)
Supply Support
Support Equipment
Technical Data
Training and Training Support
