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Design technique. Approach used to mitigate or minimize the effects of, or the onset of, technol-
ogy obsolescence. Examples are the inclusion of critical design review criteria specifying manu-
facturing life before discontinuance and the requirement for a waiver (a 10-year waiver, for
instance) if criteria are not met.
DLA War Stopper List. Program that addresses the resolution of Warfighter Critical Shortage List
items, including related supply chain issues.
Early-life-cycle parts procurement. Judicious part selection for replacement of an obsolescent part
or as a component in a new design to prevent or delay obsolescence. Selecting a part that is rel-
atively new in its life cycle is a hedge against early obsolescence. It is sometimes possible, espe-
cially if large production expenditures are involved, to predict the families of parts that will be
replaced by a new product line.
Early-warning database. Reactive approach to resolving obsolescence cases.The database should
contain information about every part in the system. Such a database can become a proactive
tool if projections of the obsolescence of all parts are incorporated and a system health analysis
is performed.With a database encompassing the system’s entire indentured parts list and a pro-
jection of parts obsolescence, a system manager, or engineer, could decide the optimum level
(part, board, subsystem, or system) of replacement and then could schedule for replacements re-
quired to maintain the functionality of the system. Also, maintaining the data electronically al-
lows quick research of obsolescence notices, part reliability, availability, maintainability, and
sustainability.This type of analysis supports the manager’s programming for the funds to accom-
plish the needed replacements. Another reason to have the complete set of system parts in an
electronic database is that you can utilize electronic comparison routines.This allows for the
comparison of parts you have versus the obsolescence notices that originate from other sources
such as GIDEP or DSCC.
Emulation. Use of current design and manufacturing processes to produce an equivalent item
(form, fit, and function) for the DMSMS item.
Existing source (stock). Use of source in the current inventory.
Existing substitute. Replacement of the DMSMS item with a substitute item whose performance
(in terms of form, fit, and function) matches that of the DMSMS item.
Government/organic fabrication facility. Facility that can be used to produce an obsolete item that
qualifies as a special fabrication project. A government/organic fabrication facility can also serve
as an after-market manufacturer.
Joint Materiel Priorities and Allocation Board. Board responsible for the following activities:
◆
Modifying and recommending priorities for allocations of assets for the fulfillment of logistic
requirements of the theater (both U.S. and allied forces)
◆
Reviewing, acting on, or forwarding requests for modifications in force and activity designa-
tors to the Joint Staff
◆
Reviewing, acting on, or forwarding requests to establish or change the priorities in the
master urgency list to the Joint Staff
◆
Recommending, to the Joint Staff, modifications to priorities and allocations of resources
assigned to other commanders of a combatant command.
Life-of-type buy. Procurement of a sufficient quantity of a DMSMS part to ensure full produc-
tion plus repair and replacement spares for the expected life cycle of the system. Costs for pack-
aging, storage, and transportation must be considered.These costs may be reduced by
identifying alternate sources.
Modernization through spares. Insertion of spare parts that reflect current technology and the use
of commercial products, processes, and practices.