Although the elements that serve as a key foundation for our functional community have evolved over the years, the so-called “Traditional Ten Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Elements” as they had generally been applied, accepted, and understood over the years at one time included:

 

• Design Interface
• Supply Support
• Maintenance Planning
• Packaging, Handling, Storage and Transportation(PHS&T)
• Technical Data
• Support Equipment
• Training & Training Support
• Manpower & Personnel
• Facilities
• Computer Resources Support

The current “Twelve Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements”, as outlined in Appendix A of the DoD Product Support Manager’s (PSM) Guidebook and the DoD Integrated Product Support Element (IPS) Guidebook, on the other hand, include:

 

• Product Support Management
• Design Interface
• Sustaining Engineering
• Supply Support
• Maintenance Planning and Management
• Packaging, Handling, Storage, and Transportation (PHS&T)
• Technical Data
• Support Equipment
• Training & Training Support
• Manpower & Personnel
• Facilities and Infrastructure
• Computer Resources

At first glance, the two lists appear to be quite similar, but in reality, both the elements themselves, what they include, and even how they are defined, are quite different -- hence the sunsetting of the ILS terminology in favor of a broader product support-focused IPS term. So what is different? First off, the two new elements are “Product Support Management” and “Sustaining Engineering.” Both include an extensive life cycle management focus, and both include activities and aspects that extend across the life cycle and often beyond the traditional logistics domain.

In addition, the Maintenance Planning element expands to include Maintenance Management, again including O&S execution responsibilities. Infrastructure has been added to Facilities Element, expanding the breadth beyond what some saw were primarily focused on “brick and mortar” buildings. Computer Resources Support simply became Computer Resources, focused on supporting hardware and software, as well as support services necessary to ensure effective and affordable product support. The operative word – and common thread between ILS and IPS Elements is “Integrated.” Regardless of how many there are, or exactly how each is defined, in order to design, develop, deploy, and sustain an affordable, effective system support strategy, the elements of that support must be integrated.

While the ten ILS Elements are no longer acknowledged in DoD-level product support policy or guidance (including Army Regulation 700-127) – and in order to align with the recently issued MIL-HDBK 502A Product Support Analysis terminology, DoD and other Services’ guidance, and associated DoD Logistics Assessment (LA) evaluation criteria, it would not be surprising if we see the terminology transition to IPS in the next revision of this important Army policy as well. 
By way of quick reference, a few things to keep in mind, namely that the 12 Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements:

 

• Expand upon the traditional ten ILS Elements by including Product Support Management and Sustaining Engineering elements, while modifying/expanding the scope of many others
• Include the activities needed to acquire the product support package designed to deliver system readiness and availability while optimizing system life cycle cost
• Encompass broader, more interdisciplinary product support activities and requirements, while remaining tightly aligned and integrated
• Must remain integrated throughout the supportability analysis process
• Are documented in the DoD IPS Element Guidebook which includes the who, what, where, when, why and how for the major deliverables of each IPS Element by life cycle acquisition phase
• Are summarized in both Appendix A of the DoD Product Support Manager’s (PSM) Guidebook, with further elaboration and details at the comprehensive IPS Element site on the DAU Logistics Community of Practice (LOG CoP)
• Are easy to remember, particularly if you use a mnemonic – check out an August 2012 blog post entitled "Do You Know Your Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements?”
• And perhaps most importantly, replace the old ILS terminology and supersede the tried & true, but now outdated list of ILS Elements

As a side note, this blog post represents the seventh in this periodic “Study in Contrasts” series. Intended as a means to clarify both the differences and linkages between commonly used terms in our defense acquisition and life cycle logistics lexicon, including this one, posts in this series include:

 

• CLS, ICS and PBL - A Study in Contrasts
• O&M, O&S and O&S - A Study in Contrasts
• Product Support Manager and Product Support Management - A Study in Contrasts
• Product Support and Sustainment - A Study in Contrasts
• Specifications and Standards - A Study in Contrasts
• Sustainment and Sustainability - A Study in Contrasts
• Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) and Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements - A Study in Contrasts