NATO
Logistics
Handbook
October 1997
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Chapter 1: NATO Logistics
Definitions
103. There are many definitions of logistics and each places
a different emphasis on the relationship of strategy,
tactics, movement and production. In NATO, however, the
agreed definition of logistics reads as follows:
- Logistics:
- The science of planning and carrying out the
movement and maintenance of forces. In its most comprehensive
sense, the aspects of military operations which deal with:
- design and development, acquisition, storage,
transport, distribution, maintenance, evacuation and
disposition of materiel (1);
- transport of personnel;
- acquisition or construction, maintenance, operation
and disposition of facilities;
- acquisition or furnishing of services; and
- medical and health service support."
104. This definition covers a wide range of responsibilities
that fall into different areas of the NATO organization. If one
considers that logistics comprises both the building up of stocks
and capabilities and the sustainment of weapons and forces, then it
is clear that a distinction can be made between two important
aspects of logistics: the first one dealing with production and the
second one with consumption. The following definitions of these
aspects enjoy widespread acceptance within the NATO logistics
community.
- Production Logistics (also known as:
acquisition logistics That part of logistics
concerning research, design, development, manufacture and acceptance
of materiel.
In consequence, production logistics includes:
standardization and interoperability, contracting, quality
assurance, procurement of spares, reliability and defence
analysis, safety standards for equipment, specifications
and production processes, trials and testing
(including provision of necessary facilities), codification,
equipment documentation, configuration control and
modifications (2).
- Consumer Logistics (also known as:
operational
logistics) That part of logistics concerning reception of
the
initial product, storage, transport, maintenance (including
repair and serviceability), operation and disposal of materiel.
In consequence, consumer logistics includes stock
control, provision or construction of facilities (excluding
any material element and those facilities needed to
support production logistic facilities), movement control,
reliability and defect reporting, safety standards for storage,
transport and handling and related
training (3).
105. Whereas the two aspects of logistics described above
have to do with the relationship between the producer and
the consumer, there are two additional aspects that have to do
with how logistics functions are performed.
- Cooperative Logistics
There is no NATO definition yet, but cooperative
logistics could be described as follows:
"NATO Cooperative Logistics is the totality of
bilateral and multilateral consumer and production
logistics arrangements to optimize in a coordinated
and rationalised way, logistics support to NATO forces.
The aim of NATO Cooperative Logistics is to
achieve costsavings through economy of scale and
increased efficiency in peacetime, crisis and wartime
logistics support.
Development of NATO Co-perative Logistics arrangements is largely
facilitated by the use of NATO Production and Logistics Organizations
(NPLOs), particularly the NATO Maintenance and Supply
Agency (NAMSA) using modern techniques in the field
of materiel management and procurement."
- Multinational Logistics
For multinational operations, logistics must function as
an effective force multiplier. With the risk now
omni-directional, the diminishing logistic support resources, and the
principle of shared logistics responsibilities, the evolution
toward multinational logistics becomes of utmost importance.
There is not yet a NATO definition of Multinational Logistics
but it is proposed that this term cover:
"The different means to logistically support
operations other than purely national, such as
multinational integrated logistic support, role specialization
support and lead nation support."
Footnotes:
Materiel: equipment in its widest sense including vehicles, weapons,
ammunition, fuel, etc.
At NATO Headquarters the lead authorities are the Defence Support
Division (International Staff) and the Armaments Branch of the
Logistics, Armaments and Resources Division (International Military
Staff).
At NATO Headquarters the lead authorities are the Logistics
Directorate
(International Staff) and the Logistics Branch of the Logistics,
Armaments and Resources Division (International Military Staff)
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