Two New Integrated Product Support (IPS) Element Resources Now Available
Great news! In addition to the December 2011 PDF version of the Integrated Product Support Element (IPS) Element Guidebook previously available on the DAU Logistics Community of Practice Product Support Guidance website, a new, enhanced web-based version similar in look and feel to that of the Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG) has been launched, and is available for defense acquisition workforce use.
Additionally, a companion continuous learning module CLL 046 “The Twelve Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements” has also gone live, and is also now available for student registration. According to the DAU iCatalog, “this continuous learning module provides guidance on the twelve Integrated Product Support Elements reflected in the DoD Product Support Manager Guidebook and the Integrated Product Support (IPS) Element Guidebook. It defines the 12 IPS Elements, their purpose and how they are developed, integrated and implemented throughout the life cycle. It also gives an introduction to the IPS Elements Guidebook and how to apply it to product support.” The deployment of CLL 046 brings the number of Life Cycle Logistics web-based continuous learning modules available for workforce professional development and training to 48. A complete list of training modules and links to registration are available at the DAU iCatalog Continuous Learning site.
The twelve Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements were created to define the specific roles, responsibilities and activities of the Product Support Manager (PSM), a key leadership position created in 2010 by Congress in Section 805 of Public Law 111-84. The IPS Elements are identified in Appendix A of the Product Support Manager (PSM) Guidebook. The IPS Elements represent a transition from the now former ten Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Elements, are broader in scope, more interdisciplinary and reflect the enterprise level roles and responsibilities of the PSM.
The purpose of the IPS Element Guidebook is to supplement and provide detailed information about each of the 12 IPS elements identified in Appendix A of the PSM Guidebook, as well as to serve as a reference guide and training tool for the PSM. It breaks down the IPS Element sub-topics from two levels of indenture to three or more levels of increasing detail. The guidebook explains the who, what, where, when, why and how for the key deliverables of each IPS Element by life cycle acquisition phase. It highlights the importance of full integration among the Elements; and finally, it provides links to other reference documentation for additional information (e.g., the Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG), Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP), as well as a range of related DAU learning assets).
The Services and their industry counterpars are in the process of embedding the new twelve IPS Elements into their product support strategy development with the help of the IPS Element Guidebook, with the ultimate goal to facilitate development and execution of more effective and affordable product support strategies across the DoD.