Original Date: 08/10/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Navy’s Parts Control program is a coordinated effort between prime contractors and procuring activities to promote and optimize the use of standard parts; minimize the use of company unique and peculiar parts; and prevent the use of parts with built-in failure mechanisms. The program is the result of Department of Defense (DoD) directives issued in the 1980s and early 1990s, which established and required the use of a mandatory parts control program to increase competitive bidding and hold down the prices for spare parts procured by the Services. MIL- STD-965 was the DoD standard that established and detailed parts control program requirements for use on newly designed and/or modified equipment.

In recent years, acquisition reform initiatives have introduced changes to the program including the addition of performance requirements, which address life cycle considerations (e.g., standardization, obsolescence, diminishing manufacturing sources, part reliability, quality) and are tailored in the statement of work to meet goals and objectives of different applications and acquisitions. Other changes include single process initiatives and contractor logistics support. The Navy and other Services have adopted an approach of working in partnership with industry. MIL- STD-965 was revised in 1997 into a performance based document (MIL-HANDBOOK-965) which shifts the emphasis of the program from piece part oversight to process insight. Under the new joint contractor/government approach, contractors are required to detail their comprehensive approach to parts control in either a parts control plan or via their response to the Request for Proposal. The overall objective of the parts control plan is to keep life cycle costs down as much as possible.

Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), Lakehurst’s role is to provide insight into the process for the Navy and to team with the contractor to ensure program objectives and goals are achieved by highlighting parts and issues that present a risk to the successful execution of the program. Management responsibilities include developing performance based Statement of Work requirements; negotiating single process initiatives with contractors for block change proposals; establishing parts management program requirements and procedures; and conducting technical interchange and parts control program reviews. The base also provides technical expertise for parts selection, technical issues, part quality, life-cycle considerations, and other technical areas. NAWC, Lakehurst serves as a member of the Parts Standardization and Management Committee (PSMC), a joint industry and government working group that provides a forum for promoting effective parts management and standardization through commonality of parts and processes. The PSMC promotes effective parts management through information, idea, and concept sharing between government and industry organizations.

Under the acquisition reform based approach to parts management, NAWC, Lakehurst established 16 performance based parts management programs, established and implemented 12 parts management integrated product teams (IPTs), and established a multi-program parts management IPT with Boeing (St. Louis, Missouri). Other benefits include reduced design documentation, reduced contractor part testing and qualification, and increased maintainability and supportability of Fleet systems.

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