Assessment of Critical Factors Affecting the Selection of Various AcquisitionAlternatives Used to Resolve Component Nonavailability

摘要

The ability to maintain and sustain the Army during peacetime operations andwartime utilization requirements, depends greatly on the availability of repair and spare parts. The readiness of aging systems in the Army's inventory is threatened by the component nonavailability problems. This thesis focuses on situations in which contracting officers and item managers are faced with critical factors affecting their decisions as to which acquisition alternative they chose. This study identifies and defines the component nonavailability issues, discusses why they occur, reviews current spare parts acquisition techniques, presents advantages and disadvantages associated with each acquisition alternative, and discusses and analyzes the critical factors that affect the decision making process. The researcher also proposes the use of the Rapid acquisition of Manufactured Parts (RAMP) program to address the problems of high costs, growing leadtimes, and diminishing sources for spare parts.