ILS and Backgammon...

One factor, more than any other is the cause of the, generally, poor application of Support Engineering. It is the belief, in the minds of many people, that it is, fundamentally, simple. 

Likewise the uninitiated, when first introduced to Backgammon, consider it to be a game of luck, a bit like the game of Ludo. Many years ago when I first played, I certainly did; until I, and a group of friends, played a student from Persia (yes it was that long ago) and he won every single game.  Now luck can only be stretched so far, so I dug a couple of books out of the library ('Backgammon for Blood' - I remember) and did dome homework and then I realised just how complex the game is, and how you had to have a firm grasp of probability, as well as strategy and psychology.  I still couldn't beat my Persian friend however.

The same applies to ILS / Support engineering, the uninitiated think it is simple, but like Backgammon, it is far from simple, like Backgammon it relies on a profound understanding of probability and uncertainty. Indeed the Systems required to support defence equipment are massively complex and as such they deserve, and would reward, significant study, research and investment.  

But they don't get it, because too many people in positions of influence, think that whilst ILS is 'big', it is also fundamentally 'simple'. 

Which explains why the comment I see most frequently after delivering Support Engineering training is "My boss needs to come on this course.". A comment I have been seeing for well over 20 years now...

I was prompted to write this short article after I came across the paper below, (a link I saved sometime in the last few days, but can't remember where I picked it up from, so apologies if I am stealing someones thunder).

The first sentence in the paper is:

When Einstein was asked what was most helpful to him in developing the theory of relativity, he replied, “Figuring out how to think about the problem.” 

This resonated, Aspire apply Systems and Systems Engineering principles to the application of ILS, or Support Engineering if you prefer, because it helps us manage complexity, it provides a frame of reference for addressing support issues. Systems and Systems Engineering provide us with a structured method for "thinking about the problem".

The rest of the paper is just as applicable to ILS, the final paragraph begins...

Across the frontiers of science, this new more complete, whole systems approach is replacing the old reductionist paradigm, where scientists traditionally tried to understand and describe the dynamics of systems by studying and describing their component parts. 

Which also resonates, it sums up the concept of Integrated Logistic Support. In simple terms we have to look at the bigger picture, we have to address the 'Total System' and not focus exclusively on individual, disparate, support elements.

So, I recommend that anyone involved in ILS, in Support Engineering, in Defence Logistics, reads this paper and considers how it could / should affect the manner in which ILS is applied; 'bosses' in particular, please take note...