Types of Lifecycle Services
Visibility Services
The Visibility Service exposes both Major (Class I) and Minor (Class II) Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) that are applied to the product by Defense Solutions during the active service period. Included is a quarterly bill of materials (BOM) health check that highlights current component obsolescence (at the integrated circuit, or IC level), and identifies risk mitigation strategies.
Control Services
The Control Service provides clients with control over a product's configuration, including the authority to approve or reject all Major (Class I) and Minor (Class II) Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) that are proposed by Defense Solutions during the contracted service period. Included is a quarterly bill of materials (BOM) health analysis report that details current and predicted component obsolescence (at the integrated circuit, or IC level), provides component last-time buy (LTB) information, and identifies risk mitigation strategies.
This service also provides a product baseline configuration data package and a complete revision and ECO history.
Longevity of Supply and Repair
The Volume Production Phase of a product will eventually end due to a high level of component obsolescence or diminishing customer demand. Before this happens, Defense Solutions will announce a last-time buy (LTB) opportunity for a product. As part of Defense Solutions commitment to support the lifecycle management needs of its customers, two Lifecycle Services are provided to extend the life of products after their last order date:
Longevity of Supply Service
The Longevity of Supply (LOS) Service is for customers who have a long production run and who are not in a position to re-qualify a new configuration or take immediate advantage of newer products via technology insertion.
This service secures the continued manufacturing capability for a given product. It ensures that the tools, test equipment and expertise will be in place for continued builds and repairs after the last order date has expired.
The LOS provides clients with continued control over a product's configuration, including the authority to approve or reject all Major (Class I) and Minor (Class II) Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) that are proposed by Defense Solutions during the contracted service period.
Also included is a quarterly bill of materials (BOM) health analysis report that details current and predicted component obsolescence (at the integrated circuit, or IC level), provides component last-time buy (LTB) information, and identifies risk mitigation strategies. This service also provides a product baseline configuration data package and complete revision and ECO history.
Customers using the LOS service are required to purchase obsolete components to meet build requirements, as detailed in the quarterly BOM health analysis reports. Defense Solutions will assign new part numbers to identify customer-owned inventory and will update the manufacturing BOM via an engineering change order.
Longevity of Repair Service
The Longevity of Repair (LOR) Service is for customers who have a long in-service horizon and want to repair fielded circuit card assemblies past Defense Solutions standard repair horizon.
This service secures the continued repair capability for a given product and ensures the tools, test equipment and expertise will be in place for continued repairs after the established last repair date.
The LOR provides clients with continued control over a product's configuration, including the authority to approve or reject all Major (Class I) and Minor (Class II) Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) that are proposed by Defense Solutions during the contracted service period.
The service also includes a quarterly bill of material (BOM) health analysis report that details current and predicted component obsolescence (at the integrated circuit, or IC level), provides component last-time buy (LTB) information, and identifies risk mitigation strategies. This service also provides a product baseline configuration data package and complete revision and ECO history.
Customers using the LOR service are required to purchase obsolete components to meet repair requirements under the LOR service, as detailed in the quarterly BOM health analysis reports. Defense Solutions will assign new part numbers to identify customer-owned inventory and will update the manufacturing BOM via an engineering change order.
Variant Creation Services
The Variant Creation Service is a pre-requisite to the delivery of lifecycle services such as Control, Longevity of Supply (LOS) and Longevity of Repair (LOR). This is a onetime set up activity where Defense Solutions assembles and releases a unique production build package based upon a standard product variant.
By creating a customer-specific variant early in the program, customers who want to lock their card configuration or secure end of life parts to support future builds and/or repairs are able to maintain one part number throughout the life of the program.
Component Storage and Handling Services
The Component Storage and Handling Service is available to customers who wish to store their inventory of components at Defense Solutions, to facilitate timely card builds or repairs. As part of the service, Defense Solutions will:
- Segregate customer inventory in a secure area of the warehouse
- Store parts in nitrogen-purged, evacuated bags to protect components from moisture, oxidation and electrostatic discharge
- Periodically inspect the bags to ensure they remain intact, and at least once a year open the bags and perform a physical count of the material
Download a Lifecycle Management Success Story: Naval Air Systems Command AYK-14