Why Engineers Don't Understand Logistics

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe author describes his observations during twenty‐eight years of naval ship design, acquisition and logistics support experience that engineers do not understand logistics or even consider logistics as part of their engineering responsibilities. This paper will explore the reasons why. The paper will also provide reasons why the engineer should understand logistics and why it should become a part of the engineer's responsibilities and lexicon. The paper presents the position that an engineer armed with a knowledge of logistics can do the best job in producing a good supportability design. Recommendations are provided to the naval engineering and logistics communities to increase the logistics knowledge of engineers. Also, the author advocates the development of design techniques to be used by the engineer to produce good supportability designs. The increased role of the engineer in applying supportability design techniques will be required in the future if we are to do more with the planned reductions in the acquisition workforce.