PRODUCT SUPPORT
Left: U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Spencer J. Kraft, left, and Lance Cpl. Cade Otto, both motor vehicle opera- tors, with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, ground guide a Logistics Vehicle System Replace- ment during port operations in Setermoen, Norway, Feb. 3, 2026. A key component of NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO allies in challenging arctic conditions. Source: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Apollo Wilson This image was cropped to show detail and edited using multiple flters plus dodging and burning techniques. Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analy - sis (FMECA). This data-driven process allows teams to identify potential failure modes, understand their ef - fects, and determine their criticality. By integrating FMECA into their pro - cesses, PSMs can effectively achieve the following goals: • Refine maintenance plans to ad - dress the most likely failure points. • Optimize the acquisition of spare parts. • Direct training efforts for service personnel. • Guide hardware corrections and upgrades. The synergy between R&M en - gineering and the PSM conducting or supporting FMECA is particularly vital because PSM’s life-cycle-wide perspective enhances the FMECA’s relevance and effectiveness. FMECA results, particularly the Risk Priority Number values, allow the R&M team to prioritize actions and focus on the most critical issues. The benefits of a strong R&M- focused approach extend to every stakeholder. Program managers can achieve their mission objectives while controlling budgets, increasing sys - tem uptime, and reducing overall life- cycle costs. The R&M department re - ceives invaluable real-world feedback from PSMs, enabling refined designs and support practices. By working together, these teams address sup - ply chain issues, ensuring that R&M objectives are met throughout the system’s life. More information on R&M Engineering, RAM-C, FMECA, and other resources is available at the
analyst collaborate on the Reliabil - ity, Availability, Maintainability–Cost (RAM-C) report as a critical analysis tool. This analysis defines the life- cycle sustainment requirements for different design options, ensuring
that R&M goals are both realistic and achievable. The RAM-C report allows decision-makers to set clear R&M thresholds, identify potential risks, and evaluate crucial trade-offs, such as weighing reliability against cost. This early insight, updated as new and better data become available, enables programs to optimize their design and maintenance strategies, providing comprehensive data for cost and performance trades over a system’s life cycle. When a weapon system ages, the PSM faces significant changes in managing high operational tem - pos, limited resources, and strained supply chains. Neglecting R&M leads to increased malfunctions, exces - sive maintenance burdens, compro - mised missions, and unsustainable costs, impacting operational readi - ness, life-cycle expenses, safety, and survivability. A powerful tool for proactively managing these risks is the Failure
Figure 1. Reliability and Maintenance Intersections
*Reliability Function: An independant external entity focusing on the niche areas of Engineering, Operations, and Maintenance (EOM) to improve asset reliability throughout its life cycle. Source: From the book Good to Great by Jim Collins
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2026 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE 21 –
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