Working Group 19 Charter
Logistics, Reliability and Maintainability

(Last Updated 29 August 2007)

PURPOSE: The Purpose of the Logistics (LOG), Reliability and Maintainability (RAM) Working Group (WG19) is to share ideas and improve our understanding of how varying levels of security threats and/or requirements impact logistics and the related analysis that is needed. This Working Group encompasses initiatives, programs, and analyses related to joint visions, Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and the interaction among state departments. This Working Group will address logistics as it relates to stability and security within each of the aforementioned groups. Discussions will be focused on in-progress as well as completed analyses and will provide a scientific forum where members can:

• Identify and discuss operations research methodologies and their applicability to many Logistics and RAM problems,

• Secure constructive peer review and recommendations for work in progress or follow on research,

• Report findings and assessments of completed analyses,

• Exchange new ideas, demonstrate emerging technologies, and/or participate in critical discussions as part of Homeland Security issues and other general stability/security initiatives.

DISCUSSION: This Working Group’s purview, based on the purpose stated above, crosses many spectra to include Homeland Security, Service / Joint / Interagency / Combined logistics doctrine and procedures, total life cycle (cradle to grave) materiel acquisition / sustainment / maintenance / disposal programs, Pentagon to foxhole logistics decision making processes, commercial to wholesale to retail procurement and distribution, strategic to operational to tactical standard logistics information systems, and Major Theater War to Small Scale Contingencies to Peacetime Operations. This Working Group continues to use the latest and most appropriate operations research techniques in order to provide the highest quality routine as well as classified operations research analyses. Techniques include Applied Statistics, Optimization, Modeling and Simulation, Forecasting, Design of Experiments, Test and Evaluation, etc.

Major areas of interest include:

• Types of analysis required to accurately model issues related to Homeland Security

• Techniques to successfully operate distribution and logistics systems within unstable security constraints

• Emerging "Focused Logistics" and "Full Spectrum Supportability" doctrine and procedures

• Logistics Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations (ACTD) and emerging logistics capabilities which need to be analyzed or modeled

• Optimization and simulation of tactical logistics/distribution systems and processes

• Integration of logistics models and simulations with combat models and simulations for analysis and training

• Reliability and maintainability of materiel and systems/systems of systems

• Emerging Research/Development and Operational Test and Evaluation (R/DT&E and OT&E) theory and methodologies

• Life cycle cost and Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis (COEA) methodologies for materiel and systems to maximize readiness, availability, and life expectancy while reducing total costs

• Sustainment and maintenance requirements forecasting

• Analytic support for all major action items identified by the Joint Logistics Commanders (JLC) or the Joint Staff Directorate of Logistics (J4)

• Optimizing reverse logistics systems and processes to efficiently move products out of theater for reconstitution and repair

• Optimization of logistics support to CONUS-based facilities

• Utilizing Commercial Best Practices (CBP) from industry to find creative ways to improve government analyses.

SYNERGY: The LOG & RAM Working Group constantly strives to share pertinent information with other professional bodies such as the Society of Logistics Engineers (SOLE), Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), and international Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA), as well as, shares/participates with other Working Groups on topics of mutual interest through joint sessions and Composite Groups.