Perhaps the most general definition of Integrated Logistics Support is a means of logistic backing which devises and directs the identification and also the development of system requirements and logistics support for military systems. The main goal of ILS is for it to create systems with a greater duration as well as requiring less support. This has the dual result of reducing costs and increasing return on investments made by companies and shareholders. Therefore, this does not only address these aspects of supportability during acquisition, but also throughout the entire operational life span of the system in question.
As the word ‘Integrated’ may suggest, this form of support involves the planning and execution of a number of aspects simultaneously in order to assure system availability. In order for all the elements of ILS to interact with maximum efficiency, the planning of each individual element of ILS is developed in coordination with each other as well as with the system engineering effort. However, because a system may be required to have a specific combination of requirements, it may be necessary to engage in trade-offs, in order to produce a system that is operable, supportable, transportable, sustainable, environmentally sound, and affordable (with the lowest possible life cycle cost). It may also be the case that a deliberate process of Logistics Support Analysis will be implemented in order to identify the specific tasks to be completed by each support element within a system.
As has already been mentioned, Integrated Logistics Support involves a wide range of activities. The most common of these include Equipment Support (such as testing equipment, computer resources support, spare part support and also acquiring resources); Manpower and Personnel or staff (including training and training support); PHS&T (Packaging, Handling, Storage and Transportation); Reliability engineering, Maintainability engineering, and also the maintenance planning (involving preventative, predictive and corrective planning). The impact of Integrated Logistics Support is often measured in ‘metric terms’ such as availability, reliability, maintainability and testability (RAMT) and, in some cases, System Safety (RAMS).
The manpower and personnel activity of Integrated Logistics Support involves the identification as well as the acquisition of potential workers with the necessary grades and skills required to operate and maintain the system over its life span. However, the training and training devices support encompasses the procedures, techniques, processes, and equipment used to train personnel to be able to operate and maintain the same system.
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