logistics support for customer premises equipment (router) in the telecommunications environment
DESCRIPTION
Logistics supportTRANSCRIPT
Introduction
Logistics Elements
Integrated Logistics Support Plan - Input
Logistics Support Plan - Output
Management of Logistics Elements, availability, and life-cycle cost
Logistics engineering is an interesting field. It cuts across different facets ranging from supply chain (SC) in the commercial sector to what logistics is now in terms of integrated logistics support as seen in the defense sector. In the supply chain segment, it involves inbound and outbound logistics activities. Inbound logistics comprises material flow from suppliers to the manufacturers and outbound logistics entails the downstream flow of products from the manufacturers to the end users or customers. There is also the concept of reverse logistics which refers to the flow of materials from the end-user site to the manufacturers or a third party representative.
On the one hand, logistics is seen in the light of supply chain as described above, and on the other hand, logistics also have the side of maintenance and support activities which is geared towards ensuring that the system or product which has been designed and developed is fully utilized throughout its lifecycle. This is the concept of integrated logistic support (ILS). It is an amalgamation of some of the activities seen in the reverse logistics with that of the maintenance side. This is largely used in the defense sector as opposed to the commercial counterpart.
In this paper, we look at logistics wholly from a support perspective. The content of this paper is primarily based on developing an integrated logistics support plan (ILSP) for a chosen product, the customer premises equipment – A router to be precise; the ILSP is seen as input to the system; and also develop a logistic support plan (LSP), seen as the output from the system.
Supply support – Spares and repair parts, Training and training support, Logistics, maintenance and support
personnel, Technical data and documentation, Facilities support and utilities, Test equipment and support, Warehousing (Distribution), Standardization and interoperability.
Basic Logistics Elements (Source: B.S. Blanchard, Logistics Engineering and Management, 6th Ed., Prentice Hall, NJ, 2004, Figure 1.5).
To ensure effective support of the product (CPE), we develop an integrated logistics support plan (ILSP) for the full life-cycle of the product. This is achieved through developing the logistics element plan. Figure below shows the ILSP development as exemplified by Blanchard (2004).
Development of integrated logistics support plan (Source: B.S. Blanchard, Logistics Engineering and Management, 6th Ed., Prentice Hall, NJ, 2004).
Product RequirementsProduct Requirements
Training planTraining plan
Integrated Logistics Support PlanIntegrated Logistics Support Plan
Maintenance PlanningMaintenance Planning Management PlanningManagement Planning
Technical data and documentation planTechnical data and documentation plan
Supply support planSupply support plan
Distribution and Customer Support planDistribution and Customer Support plan
Test equipment and support planTest equipment and support plan
Facilities and utilities planFacilities and utilities plan
Handling / storage planHandling / storage plan
Technical requirements Management requirements
The logistics support plan is the output from the logistics support infrastructure. At this juncture, the product and the logistics support has been developed and the product has been deployed at user site. To support this product (CPE), we develop a logistics support plan as shown in the diagram below
LOGISTICS SUPPORT PLAN - CONT
Logistics support plan (LSP) development
Product Ready and in useProduct Ready and in use
Training planTraining plan
Logistics Support PlanLogistics Support Plan
Maintenance PlanningMaintenance Planning Management PlanningManagement Planning
Technical data and documentation planTechnical data and documentation plan
Supply support planSupply support plan
Reporting plan Reporting plan
Test equipment and support planTest equipment and support planFacilities and utilities
planFacilities and utilities plan
Total Quality Management PlanTotal Quality Management Plan
Customer Support planCustomer Support planConfiguration Management planConfiguration Management plan
Logistics elements are managed through: Configuration management, Total quality management, Project management, Acquisition of the right resources for support
Availability and life-cycle cost are managed thorough: Proper planning for logistics support in all phases, Incorporation of appropriate supportability characteristics
during the support phase, Identification, and timely acquisition of support elements
required for product operation and maintenance, Continuous assessment of the overall effectiveness of the
product throughout its life-cycle, and initiation of modifications for corrective action or product improvement
as stipulated Blanchard (2004).