ICBM Maintenance Metrics Handbook
 

The key to effectively managing any process is to understand how that process is performing. The best way to understand and manage a process is to measure it through metrics. When a particular process exists at more than one location, standardization of metrics becomes especially important, as it provides a means of effective evaluation both within and across organizations.

This handbook was developed to provide a quick reference tool to enable managers at Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Force Materiel Command to effectively utilize metrics in their processes. It explains some inherent processes of ICBM maintenance and is a compilation of key metrics used to evaluate these areas. 

Thinking About Logistics 2009

 

 

Thinking About Logistics 2009 is a collection of 37 essays and articles--in three sections: Historical Perspective, Contemporary Thought and Issues, and Studies and Analyses--that lets the reader look broadly a variety of logistics areas. Included in the volume is the work of many authors with diverse interests and approaches.

The content of Thinking About Logistics 2009, ranging across approximately 10 years, was selected for two basic reasons--to represent the diversity of the ideas and to stimulate thinking.

Items contained in Thinking About Logistics 2009 may be reproduced without permission; however, reprints should include the courtesy line "originally published by the Air Force Logistics Management Agency."

Prepress PDF version online.

Logistics Dimensions 2008

Logistics Dimensions 2008 is a collection of 19 essays, articles, and vignettes that lets the reader look broadly at a variety of logistics concepts, ideas and, subjects. Included in the volume is the work of many authors with diverse interests and approaches. The content was selected for two basic reasons--to represent the diversity of the ideas and to stimulate thinking. That's what we hope you do as you read the material--think about the dimensions of logistics. Think about the lessons history offers. Think about why some things work and others do not. Think about problems. Think about organizations. Think about the nature of logistics. Think about fundamental or necessary logistics relationships.

PDF version online.

Quotes for the Air Force Logistician Box Set is a two-volume set. Each volume contains a broad collection of words of wisdom, witticisms, and reflections, both humorous and profound, on a wide variety of subjects. As you might expect, a great many of the quotations deal with military subjects in general and logistics in particular.

View Volume 1 PDF online
View Volume 2 PDF online

Quotes for the Air Force Logistician Box Set. Why books of quotations for Air Force Logisticians? An obvious answer is there aren't any. But that's not the only reason, and it's certainly not the most important reason. The primary reason for producing this set was to provide a teaching resource that can be used in classroom, education, training, and mentoring programs for Air Force logisticians. It is a tool that can be used by instructors, teachers, managers, leaders, and students. It is also a tool that can be used in research settings and a resource that should stimulate comment and criticism within educational and mentoring setting. Copies of the set are provided free of charge to any Air Force logistician, educational institution, teacher, instructor, commander, or manager.

What is a quote or a quotation? Quotes or quotations often mean different things to those who hear or read them. For many, it's the repetition of something that conveys authority or illustration. For others, it's the process of citing or bringing forward evidence of a particular point. For still others, quotes are a source of wisdom or inspiration. All of these thoughts, however, share a common thread--communicating an idea. And of perhaps more import, communicating an idea that causes some form of action: think, act, direct, inform, question, or persuade. Further, quotes can, and often do, remove the barriers associated with the written or spoken word.

AEF Fuels Management Pocket Guide

When we think of war, many times, we envision large armies moving across the field, inspired by a clash of political ideologies. The intriguing twists and intricate strategy and battlefield tactics hold our attention above all other aspects of war. Yet, the bulk of a commander's considerations involve the logistical limitations that drive changes in strategy and tactics in order to keep forces supplied and moving. The last 50 years of technological advances have only optimized modes of transportation, not lessened the impact of fuel on strategy, tactics, and operations. While technological advances may reduce lift requirements in the amount of support equipment or munitions required for operations, a similar advance seems unlikely for fuel. Arguably, fuel will remain the dominant logistics factor that limits strategic and tactical planning, as well as actual operations for the foreseeable future. The criticality and importance of fuels planning and support cannot be overemphasized. The success of any campaign hinges on a well-constructed and carefully thought-out plan. The role of fuels logistics in an aerospace expeditionary force is no different. If we are well prepared going into a contingency, it is less likely that we will experience problems during operations. Today's war-planning tactics have evolved considerably from those of the past. However, the ultimate objective remains unchanged: successfully accomplishing the mission. As with all logistics functions, planning for fuels support must be carefully calculated and deliberately planned.

View PDF version online.

The AEF Fuels Management Pocket Guide, Third Edition is designed to assist in understanding fuels issues as they relate to aerospace expeditionary force (AEF) operations. The information is intended to provide a broad overview of many issues and be useful to anyone who has an interest in the Air Force fuels business. As the AEF continues to evolve, implementation and execution will also change.

Logistics Dimensions 2006 is a collection of 25 essays, articles, and vignettes that lets the reader look broadly at a variety of logistics concepts, ideas and, subjects. Included in the volume is the work of many authors with diverse interests and approaches. The content was selected for two basic reasons--to represent the diversity of the ideas and to stimulate thinking. That's what we hope you do as you read the material--think about the dimensions of logistics. Think about the lessons history offers. Think about why some things work and others do not. Think about problems. Think about organizations. Think about the nature of logistics. Think about fundamental or necessary logistics relationships. PDF version online.

Old Lessons New Thoughts 2006 is a collection of 28 essays, articles, and vignettes that lets the reader look broadly a variety of logistics and technological areas through the lens of history. Included in the volume is the work of many authors with diverse interests and approaches. The content was selected for two basic reasons--to represent the diversity of the ideas and to stimulate thinking. That's what we hope you do as you read the material ...think about the challenges. Think about the lessons history offers. Think about why some things work and others do not. Think about problems. Think about organizations. Think about the nature of logistics. Think about fundamental or necessary logistics relationships. Think about the past, present, and future. PDF version online.

Even though computers generate the stockage levels, a logistician needs to know about stockage policy. Here are a few reasons why. First, to improve stockage policy, you must first understand how it works. Second, if there are support problems at your base, how are you going to fix them? If you don't understand how it works, you won't know what's broken or how to fix it. Third, stockage policy is the guts of the supply system. So knowing stockage policy--understanding the theory behind the formulas--is key to understanding the Air Force supply system and its performance. We think you'll find this handbook interesting, understandable, and helpful.

Out of Print - Available only online

Back to Basics Handbook
 

Back to Basics: A Handbook for LRS and APS Commanders is designed to serve as a quick reference functional guide. It is not intended to be all encompassing or to replace governing instructions, regulations, or directives.

The handbook is broken down by process, similar to the current logistics readiness squadron and proposed aerial port squadron structures. The areas covered include deployment and distribution, fuels management, materiel management, vehicle management, traffic management, and aerial port. The handbook also contains quick facts on high-profile logistics areas such as nuclear weapons-related materiel and the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center.

C-5 TNMCM Study II

The C-5 TNMCM Study II proved to be a stern test of AFLMA's abilities and perseverance. Considering the numerous potential factors which impact TNMCM rates as well as the C-5s historical challenges in the areas of availability and achieving established performance standards, the study team was determined to apply new thinking to an old problem. The research addressed areas of concern including maintaining a historically challenged aircraft, fleet restructuring, shrinking resources, and the need for accurate and useful metrics to drive desired enterprise results.

The team applied fresh perspectives, ideas and transformational thinking. As a result, the study team developed a new detailed methodology to attack similar research problems, formulated a new personnel capacity equation that goes beyond the traditional authorized versus assigned method, and analyzed the overall process of setting maintenance metric standards. AFLMA also formed a strategic partnership with the Office of Aerospace Studies at Kirtland AFB in order to accomplish an analysis of the return on investment of previous C-5 modifications and improvement initiatives. A series of articles was produced which describes various portions of the research and accompanying results. Those articles are consolidated in this book. PDF version online.

Contingency Contracting Handbook 2010
 

Contingency Contracting: A Joint Handbook for the 21st Century is authorized by the Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy and Strategic Sourcing. It was prepared by OUSD (AT&L), Defense Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics contingency contracting staff, Defense Acquisition University, and the Air Force Logistics Management Agency. These organizations will maintain the handbook and provide future updates.

In order to enhance your ability to successfully operate in a variety of mission environments, we've produced Contingency Contracting: A Joint Handbook. This pocket-sized handbook and its accompanying DVD provide the essential information, tools, and training for you to meet the challenges you will face, regardless of the mission or environment.

Your job as a contingency contracting officer (CCO) is to locally acquire the items needed to support the mission. In doing so, you should be conscious of the fact that many foreign business cultures expect kickbacks, finder's fees, exchange of gifts, or other gratuities that are illegal for US personnel to provide or accept. You should always ensure ethics regulations are closely observed. As a CCO, you must be vigilant in advising US commanders, requirements personnel, and CCO-appointed representatives about practices that may violate standards of conduct.

Our goal in producing this handbook was to provide a pocket-sized guide to help you meet the needs of those whom you are supporting. This is crucial to your success and that of the overall mission. No one can remember verbatim all the training he or she has received, and that is where this handbook will, hopefully, fill in the gaps. It is by no means a stand-alone document and must be read together with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, and Operational Contracting in Joint Operations (Joint Publication 4-10). Contingency Contracting: A Joint Handbook provides a consolidated source of information for CCOs conducting contingency contracting operations in a Joint environment. The hard-copy book is intended to be used in conjunction with the attached DVD. Both the handbook and DVD can be used for training at home station, referenced while deployed, and for training while deployed. The handbook and attached DVD provide useful tools, templates, and training that enable the CCO to be effective in any contracting environment. 

Complete book with critical checklists (as printed).

Maintenance Metrics 2009

Maintenance Metrics U.S. Air Force. This handbook is an encyclopedia of metrics and includes an overview to metrics, a brief description of things to consider when analyzing fleet statistics, an explanation of data that can be used to perform analysis, a detailed description of each metric, a formula to calculate the metric, and an explanation of the metric's importance and relationship to other metrics. The handbook also identifies which metrics are leading indicators (predictive) and which are lagging indicators (historical). It is also a guide for data investigation. However, a word of caution is in order at this point. Overemphasis of a particular metric while ignoring the root cause of a problem may well lead to an improvement in the metric but worsening of the problem. Metrics are indicators and, as such, should be viewed in aggregate. The relationship between two metrics may be so intertwined as to make it impossible for the maintenance manager to separate the cause from the effect. Generally, metrics should be used to identify trends and not as pass or fail indicators. Individually, they are snapshots in time, and even the best organizations will occasionally dip below standards. Good metrics analysis, however, will focus the maintenance manager's attention on those areas where improvements can be realized. MAJCOM formulas may deviate slightly. For exact formulas, check with the MAJCOM logistics analysis division.

PDF version online.

Aircraft maintenance metrics are important. Don't let anyone tell you differently! They are critical tools to be used by maintenance managers to gauge an organization's effectiveness and efficiency. In fact, they are roadmaps that let you determine where you've been, where you're going, and how (or if) you're going to get there. Use of metrics allows you to flick off your organizational autopilot and actually guide your unit. But they must be used correctly to be effective.

Cumulative Index, Sixth Edition. The Pipeline first appeared in January 1977 (Volume I, Number 1) and ran through January-February 1979 (Volume III, Number 1). It was subsequently named the Air Force Journal of Logistics in 1980 and has run continuously since that time. This cumulative index includes all issues of both The Pipeline and the Air Force Journal of Logistics through Volume XXIX. The first 25 years of The Pipeline and the Air Force Journal of Logistics (AFJL) record a vibrant and varied approach to military logistics. Through all the diversity of subjects and approaches, several broad themes stand out. Perhaps most salient is the very self-conscious effort to develop and institutionalize professional ethos among logisticians. A significant number of authors address the issues of where and how logistics officers fit into their organizations' efforts to prepare for and wage war.

Likewise, considerable space is devoted to the professional, educational, and career development of logisticians. In the journals' pages, authors continually seek to demonstrate the need for logistics officers to apply sound principles of leadership, command, and planning. An important element of this trend is the inclusion of historical studies. Nearly every issue has at least one article on the history of military logistics.

Other broad themes also appear. Any perusal of The Pipeline or AFJL will expose the reader to continual efforts to apply computer technology and automation to logistical support management. One of the most remarkable events of the last quarter of the 20th century was the development of computer technology, and in the AFJL, one can find a progressive record of real attempts to develop both software and hardware for present and future conflicts.

Change and continuity will become evident when surveying the first 25 years of The Pipeline and AFJL. These journals present one US military service's attempt to grapple with the monumental changes seen in the global strategic situation. When The Pipeline began publication in 1977, Cold War challenges for strategic and logistics planning dominated military thinking. Today, the challenges are decidedly different. Projection of military power must be quick and well-supplied, and logistics plays the dominant role in transporting and supporting US forces. The pages of the AFJL and the types, focus, and approach of articles provide a vivid picture of US Air Force efforts to redefine its roles and missions in the ever-changing world, with ever-changing levels of financial support.

View Sixth Edition PDF version online.