TABLE OF CONTENTS Supportability A prediction or measure of the characteristics of an item that facilitate the ability to support and sustain its mission capability within a predefined environment and usage profile.
The supportability characteristics of a system are expressed in terms of goals, objectives, thresholds, and constraints. Ultimately, these must be verifiable in the final design solution. Supportability analysis provides the methodology. Six types of activities are performed by supportability engineering, and they are listed in Figure 11-1. These activities must be performed in the order listed to realize the total benefit of supportability analysis.
Definition of supportability requirements
Formulation of supportability design characteristics
Establish supportability goals, thresholds, and constraints
Assist in implementation of design characteristics
Identification of support resource requirements
Determination of support resource quantities
Supportability engineering performs various interrelated analyses throughout the life of a system. These analyses commence as an integral part of the systems engineering process during the earliest activities of system acquisition. They must be a continuing focus throughout the acquisition process. As the design matures, the focus shifts to determining the physical support requirements. Finally, supportability engineering uses in-service experience to identify requirements and opportunities for design upgrades and improvements that will enhance supportability.
Supportability engineering performs a series of analyses that combine system design characteristics, system use, support infrastructure, and support resources into a single optimized solution that achieves system performance requirements while at the same time minimizing total cost of ownership. The activities listed in Figure...
