Supportability Engineering is a project management discipline that applies the Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) methodology amalgamated with the Systems Engineering processes to achieve the design of an optimised and coherent support solution. The application of Supportability Engineering involves the use of skills and resources in:
- Requirements Management: to identify, capture and manage the supportability requirements
- ILS: to design, manage and execute the programme of work that influences the system design and generates the support solution
- Systems Engineering: to design and develop the support components that comprise the support system
- Systems Integration, Test, Evaluation and Acceptance: to verify and validate the support system
For true success, these skills and resources must be applied to achieve a support solution that fits within the operational environments and doctrines of the end customer, requiring an in-depth knowledge of the customer’s world.
The Persides approach to integrating supportability engineering with systems engineering is depicted in the diagram opposite:
Supportability Engineering is a core skill within Persides, delivered by experienced staff adept at establishing the principal drivers for Supportability through the effective application and tailoring of recognized standards for ILS (Def Stan 00-60 and Mil-Std 1388-1A, 1B, 2A and 2B). Persides is also experienced in developing support solutions that meet the requirements of the MoD Support Solutions Envelope (SSE) and Support Options Matrix (SOM). In the application of ILS Persides covers all the elements, including:
- ILS Programme Management
- Logistic Support Analysis (LSA)
- Maintenance Planning
- Supply Support (including AECMA S2000M standards)
- Obsolescence
- Manpower and Human Factors
- Whole Life Costs
- Support and Test Equipment (S&TE)
- Reliability, Maintainability and Testability (RM&T) including DEF-STAN 00-40, 00-41, 00-42, 00-43 and 00-44 standards)
- Facilities
- Training and Training Equipment
- Technical Documentation (including AECMA S1000D standards)
- Packaging, Handling, Storage and Transportation (PHS&T)
- Software Support
- Configuration Management
- Logistic Information
- Disposal
In addition, Persides can provide coverage for Human Factors Engineering and Safety Management where customers wish to include these within an ILS programme.
Persides offers customers the capability of managing supportability at the highest level, taking responsibility for the execution to time, cost and performance of a system supportability engineering programme and all of its ILS elements. Persides has staff experienced in defence operational environments and support doctrines, in the design, management and execution of ILS programmes, and in the use of ILS tools (e.g. iLog Eagle Logistic Support Analysis Records (LSARs) and PRICE HL). In addition, Persides maintains close links with the development of the UK MOD support concepts and can design solutions that reflect its changes and initiatives (e.g. Through Life Support Standard (TLSS), Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS), Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), Defence Logistic Transformation Programme (DLTP), Service Delivery, Operationally Focused Support, and Lean Techniques).
Alternatively, Persides can provide individual ILS elements and deliverables within a customer managed ILS programme.
Persides experience in supportability engineering includes but is not limited to:
- FIST - Future Integrated Soldier Technology for the UK MoD. Persides as a Tier 1 partner to Thales is responsible for the entire support programme.
- Land 121 - Australia’s military vehicle replacement programme valued at A$3b. Persides’ role in support of Pinzgauer (now BAE Systems) includes the definition of the entire support solution.
- Lydian - a service provision Thales UOR programme. Persides are responsible for planning and designing the supportability delivery.
