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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Integrated Logistics Support Analyst

💰 $ - $

LogisticsIntegrated Logistics SupportSustainmentSystems Engineering

🎯 Role Definition

An Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Analyst is responsible for translating system design and programmatic requirements into executable sustainment strategies that minimize life‑cycle cost and maximize system availability. The ILS Analyst performs logistics analyses (FMECA, LORA, RCM), creates provisioning and spares recommendations, authors technical publication and training requirements, supports configuration and obsolescence management, and coordinates cross‑functional sustainment deliverables across engineering, supply chain, test, and field operations. This role focuses on integrated product support (IPS) elements to ensure systems are supportable, maintainable, and affordable through design, test, production, fielding, and disposal.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Logistics Analyst / Supply Chain Analyst
  • Maintenance Planner / MRO Technician
  • Systems Engineer or Reliability Engineer
  • Military logistics or maintenance specialist transitioning to industry

Advancement To:

  • Senior Integrated Logistics Support Analyst
  • ILS Manager / Logistics Lead on a program
  • Sustainment or Supply Chain Program Manager
  • Engineering Program Manager or Product Support Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Configuration Management Specialist
  • Technical Publications / Technical Author
  • Reliability, Availability, Maintainability (RAM) Engineer
  • Obsolescence Management Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, maintain, and execute Integrated Logistics Support Plans (ILSP) and Program Support Plans (PSP) that align with program life‑cycle objectives, budget constraints, and customer requirements, ensuring all Integrated Product Support (IPS) elements are addressed and traceable.
  • Lead and perform logistics modeling and analyses, including Level of Repair Analysis (LORA), Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), and maintenance task analyses to determine optimum support concepts and maintenance strategies.
  • Produce provisioning data and recommended spares lists (cataloging, provisioning estimate reports, spares justification), applying provisioning tools and standards to size inventories that meet availability targets while minimizing total ownership cost.
  • Create and maintain Logistics Support Analysis Records (LSAR), technical data packages (TDP), and the database of supportability metrics to document maintenance tasks, repair times, support equipment, and spares requirements for certification and contract deliverables.
  • Generate life‑cycle cost (LCC) estimates for sustainment, including operating and support (O&S) cost projections, manpower, training, spares, and depot-level repair cost models to inform program budgeting and trade studies.
  • Coordinate with systems engineering and design teams to identify and mitigate supportability risks early in design (Design for Supportability), driving design changes that reduce sustainment burden and improve availability.
  • Author, review, and update technical publications, maintenance manuals, illustrated parts breakdowns (IPB), wiring diagrams, and technical data in accordance with standards (S1000D, MIL‑STD, ATA iSpec) and customer documentation requirements.
  • Develop and implement maintenance concepts (organizational, intermediate, depot), maintenance allocation, and maintenance planning to define maintenance levels, manpower requirements, special tooling, test equipment, and facility needs.
  • Lead logistics supportability reviews (LSR), preliminary and critical design reviews (PDR/CDR), and sustainment readiness reviews; prepare review packages, action items, and track closure with cross‑functional teams and stakeholders.
  • Support configuration management activities by maintaining traceability between configuration baselines and logistics deliverables, ensuring documentation, spares, and support equipment reflect current system baselines.
  • Establish and monitor logistics performance metrics and KPIs (MTBF, MTTR, readiness, spares turnover), generate dashboards and status reports for program leadership, and recommend corrective actions to meet sustainment targets.
  • Conduct supply chain risk assessments and obsolescence management plans to identify single points of failure, long‑lead items, and vendor risks; develop mitigation strategies including redesign, alternate sourcing, and strategic spares.
  • Prepare procurement specifications for support equipment, special tools, test and diagnostic equipment (TDE), and Life Support Items; coordinate procurement with contracting and supplier quality to meet delivery timelines.
  • Support fielding, deployment, and sustainment transition activities including field service representative (FSR) plans, training rollouts, initial spares kits, and on‑site logistics support during initial operational capability (IOC) and handover to sustainment organizations.
  • Collaborate with training development teams to define training requirements, courses of instruction, simulators, and certification standards for operators and maintainers based on maintenance task analyses and job task lists (JTL).
  • Integrate reliability, maintainability, and safety data into logistics planning by analyzing test and fleet data to recommend reliability growth actions and updates to maintenance procedures or spares provisioning.
  • Prepare and submit contract deliverables: Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for logistics tasks, logistics data packages, certification packages, and regulatory documentation to meet contractual and customer milestones.
  • Perform root cause analysis and corrective action planning for recurring maintenance issues, coordinating with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers to implement design fixes or process improvements.
  • Manage and update databases and tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, IBM Maximo, ILS‑provisioning software, LSAR tools) to capture inventory, maintenance records, warranty claims, and supportability data; ensure data integrity and audit readiness.
  • Provide logistics subject matter expertise during design reviews, test events, and operational evaluations; represent sustainment interests in cross‑functional IPTs and advise senior management on tradeoffs between cost, availability, and schedule.
  • Develop and maintain obsolescence and vendor lifecycle plans, tracking part lifecycles and supplier viability, coordinating redesigns or last‑time buys to protect long‑term sustainment readiness.
  • Support contract negotiations and statement of work (SOW) development from a logistics perspective, specifying required deliverables (spares kits, technical manuals, support services) and acceptance criteria for sustainment performance.

Secondary Functions

  • Conduct ad‑hoc logistics data analyses and supportability studies to answer customer and program manager inquiries and to inform decision‑making during program milestones.
  • Maintain and enhance the program’s logistics knowledge base, lessons learned, and best practice repositories to improve repeatability across programs.
  • Assist in the development of logistics budget inputs and sustainment cost tracking; support monthly/quarterly cost reviews and audits.
  • Participate in supplier reviews and support supplier quality assurance (SQA) events to ensure parts and logistics deliverables meet program sustainment requirements.
  • Mentor junior logistics analysts and provide on‑the‑job training for LSAR maintenance, FMECA facilitation, and provisioning workflows.
  • Support environmental, health, and safety (EHS) considerations in sustainment planning, including handling of hazardous materials, disposal, and end‑of‑life processes.
  • Coordinate with warranty and returns teams to analyze failure patterns and improve warranty claim processes and spare provisioning strategies.
  • Contribute to proposal development as logistics SME, including cost estimations, schedule inputs, technical approaches to sustainment, and identification of required subcontractor logistics capabilities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) planning and execution, including creation and maintenance of ILSPs, PSPs, and IPS element artifacts.
  • Proven experience performing LORA, FMECA, RCM, and maintenance task analysis (MTA) using recognized methodologies and tools.
  • Proficiency with LSAR practices and tools (e.g., S3000L concepts / LSAR databases) and experience in generating provisioning and spares recommendations.
  • Strong capability with life‑cycle cost (LCC) modeling, O&S cost estimation, and sustainment budgeting techniques.
  • Experience with configuration management principles and tools to maintain traceability between design baselines and logistics deliverables.
  • Working knowledge of technical publications standards and authoring tools (S1000D, MIL‑STD‑38784, IETM/IMI formats, XML-based documentation).
  • Familiarity with ERP and maintenance management systems such as SAP, Oracle EBS, IBM Maximo, or similar CMMS/ERP platforms.
  • Competence in supply chain risk assessment, obsolescence management, vendor management, and strategic spares provisioning.
  • Solid data analysis skills: advanced Excel (pivot tables, VBA/macros), SQL, and experience with logistics analytics tools or scripting (Python/R) for data trending.
  • Understanding of reliability engineering concepts, MTBF/MTTR calculations, and experience integrating reliability data into sustainment decisions.
  • Knowledge of relevant regulations and standards (DoD 5000.02, ASD S-Series specs, MIL‑STDs) and familiarity with contractual logistics and deliverable requirements.
  • Experience preparing contract deliverables, logistics schedules (IMS), and supporting audits, customer reviews, and logistics certification activities.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation, technical publications, and cross‑functional stakeholder engagement.
  • Excellent analytical and critical thinking ability to synthesize complex technical and operational data into pragmatic sustainment solutions.
  • Stakeholder management and interpersonal skills to lead logistics IPTs, coordinate suppliers, and influence engineering and program leadership.
  • Project and time management skills to deliver logistics artifacts to schedule under competing priorities and program constraints.
  • Attention to detail and strong organizational skills to maintain data integrity in LSARs, provisioning lists, and configuration documentation.
  • Problem solving and root cause analysis skills to drive corrective actions and continuous improvement in sustainment processes.
  • Adaptability and resilience to work in fast‑paced program environments and respond to changes in design, schedule, or operational requirements.
  • Leadership and mentoring capability to coach junior analysts and lead small cross‑functional logistics workstreams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration (MBA), or related field.
  • Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), APICS CPIM/CSCP, or Reliability/RCM certifications are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
  • Operations Research

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of progressive experience in logistics, sustainment, or systems engineering roles; 5+ years preferred for mid‑level ILS positions.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience supporting defense, aerospace, automotive, or complex industrial equipment programs with formal ILS deliverables.
  • Proven track record producing ILSPs, performing LORA/FMECA/RCM, and generating provisioning/spares packages.
  • Experience working with cross‑functional engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and field operations teams on live programs.
  • Hands‑on experience with LSAR databases, ERP/CMMS systems, technical publications standards, and sustainment analytics tools.
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