Originally Posted by
SASless
What has happened to war time stocks of the big bits? One would think along with normal spares stockage there would have been "war stocks" purchased.
Cannibalization can mean too things....lack of spares because they do not exist because they were not purchased at all.... or someone in supply has failed to ensure a timely replacement of stockage consumed.
Actually its a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B.
'Just In Time' was introduced against the wishes of a large portion of the logistics organisation because it was believed that the civil sector could just turn on the taps and produce more kit when required. Unfortunately someone seems to have forgotten to inform the civil manufacturing industry of their abilities and 'long lead times' are the bane of a beleaguered suppliers life.
On top of this is the fact that the people controlling the standing routine contracts are not (well don't seem to be) professionals in this role, with the result that quite often contracts for essential items are allowed to end with no new contract being placed. Desert boots before Telic 1 being one that springs to mind, the contract ran out and the manufacturing company went bust before anyone realised that boots weren't arriving at Bicester.
Of course rumour has it its just us suppliers being awkward sods. We've got tons of kit sat in our stores but we just love seeing the looks on your disappointed faces.
