The purpose of this book is to provide a new emphasis in logistics - the emphasis on logistics in the total system design and development process. The design of a system or product for supportability has a tremendous impact on what resources will later be required to support that system. Through the proper planning and emphasis on logistics early in the system life cycle, the necessary characteristics can be incorporated to ensure that the resultant product can be effectively and economically supported from the time that the product is initially introduced until retirement and phase-out occurs. Logistic support should be a major consideration in the establishment of system requirements, in the development of design criteria, and in the evaluation of alternatives leading to the selection of a firm design configuration. The object is to develop a system that will fulfill its mission at the lowest overall life-cycle cost.