IPS Foundry

Reference framework

The 12 IPS elements

Integrated Product Support (IPS) is commonly described through twelve elements — the framework used in the US DoD IPS Element Guidebook and mirrored, with different groupings, in the ASD/AIA S-Series specifications and DEF STAN 00-600. Whatever your contract calls them, the underlying disciplines are the same. Each page below explains one element at working level: definition, why the customer asks for it, typical activities and the standards that apply.

  1. IPS-01 Product Support Management The management layer that plans, funds and coordinates all other IPS elements across the life cycle. SX000iMIL-STD-1388-1A
  2. IPS-02 Design Interface Feeding supportability requirements into design — reliability, maintainability, testability — before the design is frozen. SX000iS3000L
  3. IPS-03 Sustaining Engineering Keeping the fielded system safe, reliable and supportable after delivery — investigating failures and managing technical baseline changes. S5000FSX000i
  4. IPS-04 Supply Support Identifying, cataloguing, provisioning and replenishing every spare, repair part and consumable the system needs. S2000MGEIA-STD-0007
  5. IPS-05 Maintenance Planning & Management Defining the maintenance concept and every scheduled and unscheduled task: who does what, where, with what, how often. S3000LS4000P
  6. IPS-06 Packaging, Handling, Storage & Transportation Making sure every item survives the journey and the warehouse: preservation, packaging design, handling constraints, transport requirements. SX000iMIL-STD-2073
  7. IPS-07 Technical Data The manuals, IETMs and data packages that tell operators and maintainers how to use and repair the system. S1000DS2000M (IPD link)
  8. IPS-08 Support Equipment The tools, test sets, ground equipment and calibration items needed to operate and maintain the system. S3000LSX000i
  9. IPS-09 Training & Training Support Analysing who must learn what, then building the courses, aids and devices to close the gap. S6000TSX000i
  10. IPS-10 Manpower & Personnel How many people, with which skills and grades, the support solution demands — and whether the customer can actually supply them. SX000iS3000L
  11. IPS-11 Facilities & Infrastructure The workshops, storage, utilities and real estate the support solution needs — specified early enough to actually exist at fielding. SX000iDEF STAN 00-600
  12. IPS-12 Computer Resources The IT, software and data environment the support system itself runs on — from maintenance management systems to software support. SX000iS5000F