LOGISTIC SUPPORT ANALYSIS - LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

For years in Navy system/equipment acquisitions, a program requirement that has been particularly troublesome to program managers (PMs), int egrated logistic support managers (ILSMs), and logistic element manage rs (LEMs) is logistic support analysis (LSA). Performance of the tasks to satisfy this LSA requirement has dismayed manv logistics engineers and analysts as well. Unfortunately, what has caused such consternati on in the past is still present and shall negatively impact LSA requir ements in the future unless some reformation occurs. A few of the main problems encountered when involved with an LSA are: the analysis is s tarted too late; the effort is complex and diverse; the LSA militarv s tandards contain ambiguities, vague descriptions, and other dericienci es; and the LSA process allows many possible approaches leading to res ults with numerous possible interpretations. In manv cases, expensive LSA processes produce data that is neither timely nor of great use. Th e result of an inefficient LSA is usually a bandaided end item in the field, one without adequate and cost-effective support. This paper add resses LSA-related problems, evidenced through research and personal e xperience, and recommends solutions to enhance the LSA process. This p aper also stresses conducting the appropriate amount of analvsis (thro ugh tailoring) to derive the ideal supportability system one of suffic ient performance that maximizes life cycle affordability.