Independent Logistics Assessment (ILA) Handbook and Air Force Instruction

Customer: US Air Force, HQ Air Force Material Command

Challenge: : As Operations and Support (O&S) costs of fielded weapons systems continue to grow, the US Air Force is pursuing alternative approaches to assure sound sustainment planning and implementation for all acquisition programs. In the past, logistics support was frequently traded away during the early acquisition phase of a weapons system, thus causing programs to reach Initial and Full Operational Capability with significant supportability shortfalls. In an effort to improve acquisition processes and ensure the logistics adequacy of programs prior to reaching major acquisition milestones decisions (Milestones B, C and the Full Rate Production decision), the Air Force sought to develop and implement a process to assess its acquisition programs' sustainment planning. WBB was asked to develop this process and the supporting Air Force Handbook and implementing instruction.

Approach: WBB thoroughly investigated Air Force and DOD policies regarding product support planning and implementation. Product support is a package of logistics support functions necessary to maintain the readiness and operational capability of a system. This research included a comprehensive review of specific policy regarding planning within a weapons system's acquisition for the ten sustainment elements: Manpower, Personnel, Maintenance, Supportability, Systems Engineering, Data Management, Supply, Transportation, Configuration Management and Training. Building on this research, WBB developed comprehensive checklists in an Integrated Logistics Assessment (ILA) handbook to be used for assessing the planning for each element based on a Total Life Cycle Systems Management (TLCSM) perspective for making acquisition logistics decisions. A TLCSM approach requires all major acquisition functional and material alternative decisions consider their effects on the O&S phase of a weapons systems acquisition and fielding in terms of effectiveness and affordability as well as their effects on desired operational capability and performance.

Value: With a focus on delivering better tools to warfighters, the handbook lays out the imperative for a TLCSM perspective on acquisition logistics decisions. The ILA handbook and implementing instruction developed by WBB lays out the imperatives for implementing a solid logistics foundation for programs, provides comprehensive assessment checklists and maps out the assessment process and clearly articulates roles and responsibilities for Air Force organizations relative to implementing the assessments. The Handbook is widely used by Air Force program offices.