MHD ASCI
WHAT IS ILS? PART C Lifecycle Sustainment Management
Integrated Product Support
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Product Support Management
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Supply Support
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Packaging, handling, storage and information
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Maintenance Planning and Management
Technical Management •
Design Interface
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Sustaining Engineering
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Technical Data
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Computer Resources
Infrastructure Management •
Support Equipment
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Training & Training Support
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Manpower & Personnel (M&P)
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Facilities & Infrastructure
Integrated Product Support diagram.
ASCI ACT Chapter President and ASCI ILS College Secretary, Gary Pearce, discusses Integrated Product Support, in this third instalment of a multi-part series.
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he previous two issues of MHD, April and May, introduced Integrated Logistics Support (ILS). Now a change of terminology, ILS is to be replaced by Integrated Product Support (IPS), this is not to confuse or complicate the situation, just simply the changing of the guard. Throughout the world, in particular Europe and the USA, IPS is replacing ILS, through the S-Series Specification process. In short IPS and ILS are the same, it would great if it was that simple, but in basic terms it is. The aim of the S-Series Integrated Logistics Support Specifications is to align Defence and Industry ILS/IPS requirements. Simply, current ILS standards and procedures will continue to apply to Australian Defence for the immediate future, and IPS will relate to Industry. However, IPS will eventually replace ILS across Defence. Future Direction of ILS There has been no real change to ILS principles and functions since introduced way back in the 1960’s, the old phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Yes, over the years there has been some fine tuning, subtle changes in terminology, however
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The re-framing of ILS to IPS aims to bring the focus back on the integration of all considerations which contribute to maximising the operational availability of equipment at an optimal lifecycle cost – the unwavering objective of ILS all along.
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nothing of significance. The S-Series Integrated Logistics Support Specifications is a suite of specifications for product support that provides for the seamless exchange of technical data (logistics, provisioning, technical publications/IETMs, scheduled maintenance and maintenance data feedback) using contemporary webbased technologies. This results in faster, more accurate and standardised analysis and decision making that encourages the conduct of Support System analysis throughout the product’s life cycle. S-Series ILS specifications interface with other standardised domains including Program Management, Global Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Security, Safety, Configuration Management, Quality, Data Exchange & Integration, and Life Cycle Costing. The aim of S-Series is to make Defence and Industry ILS/ IPS requirements compatible. The 12 IPS Elements are shown below, are in essence an extension of the 10 ILS Elements introduced in the April Issue of MHD. In principle these IPS Elements can be mapped to the ADF ILS Elements.
