Autonomic logistics - an implementation approach

Autonomic logistics seeks to automate the data collection function and enable automatic logistics decision-making in direct response to the activities of a system. The dynamic range of system "activity" can impose demand fluctuation on logistics support resources. The goal is to automate sensing of the change in activity far enough in advance to elicit a corresponding adjustive response from the logistics support system. The physiological analogy from which the autonomic logistics concept is derived is the human autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is a complex sense and response system that functions to maintain physical equilibrium. This paper addresses developing an autonomic logistics implementation approach for an existing military weapon system. It outlines a system analysis approach that investigates an end item and its design, support and maintenance systems in order to identify the candidate system elements for sense and response automation