What Are Engineering Support Systems?
Explaining what Engineering Support Systems are, can be tricky, especially to someone who has little experience. In fact, even the naming is somewhat tricky, as it goes by several names, including Integrated Logistic Support (ILS), Supportability Engineering and Integrated Product Support (IPS). While the terminology varies by industry, the core principles remain the same, ensuring that complex systems are designed, maintained, and supported for long-term efficiency and reliability.
Think about a military aircraft, a power plant, or a railway network, these products and systems are expensive, built to last, and critical to operations, so they need more than just occasional repairs. They require careful planning and long-term support strategies to keep them running smoothly.
From Maintenance Planning and Inventory Management to Obsolescence Control and Technical Documentation, engineering support helps organisations sustain performance and extend asset lifespans.
Quorum has over 20 years of experience designing and implementing Engineering Support Systems tailored to industry needs. By combining proven methods with the latest innovations, we help businesses maximise reliability and minimise risk.
What Are Engineering Support Systems?
Engineering Support Systems play a critical role in industries where complex systems and assets demand high levels of reliability. These industries include:
Defence and Military:
Ensuring mission-critical systems, such as aircraft, naval vessels, and weapon systems, operate at peak performance under demanding conditions.
Aerospace:
Managing the lifecycle of commercial and military aircraft, satellites, and spacecraft to ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with strict regulations.
Heavy Industries:
Including mining, oil and gas, and energy sectors, where maintaining machinery and infrastructure is essential to avoid costly downtime
Transportation and Logistics:
Covering railways, shipping, and automotive systems.
Healthcare:
Supporting the maintenance of critical medical equipment, ensuring it remains functional and compliant to deliver safe and effective patient care.
A few other industries use engineering support systems, but at Quorum, we typically focus on the ones mentioned above.
That said, each industry has unique requirements, but the goal remains the same, maximising reliability while minimising costs and disruptions.
Engineering Support Systems: Preventive Maintenance
Through experience, we have learned that analysis and forecasting are two of the most important tools we use to predict failures and ensure preventive maintenance, rather than reactive maintenance.
Reactive maintenance is like waiting for your car to break down on the highway before checking the oil, it is expensive, stressful, and usually avoidable. Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, keeps systems running smoothly by addressing wear and tear before it leads to failure. It reduces downtime and cuts repair costs.
In short, a little upkeep now saves a lot of trouble later, because no one wants to find out their jet engine needs a tune-up after take-off.
Core Engineering Support Systems That Enhance Performance
A great supportability consultant knows that keeping a product or system running smoothly is not just about fixing things when they break, instead, it is about planning ahead, managing resources wisely, and making sure everything works together seamlessly.
- Maintenance extends asset life and improves performance through preventive, predictive, and corrective strategies
- Reliability & Maintainability reduces downtime by designing systems to last and be easy to sustain
- Configuration Management (CM) tracks, documents, and controls all changes
- In-Service Monitoring uses real-time data to catch issues before they become failures
- Obsolescence Management keeps systems functional by addressing outdated components early
- Software Support ensures systems stay updated, secure, and reliable
- Supply Support optimizes logistics for cost-effective, reliable operations
- Inventory Planning balances availability and cost to prevent delays and waste
- Support & Test Equipment provides teams with the right tools for effective maintenance
- Technical Documentation delivers clear, up-to-date manuals for maintenance and training
- Training & Training Equipment prepares personnel for any operational challenge.
- Manpower and Human Factors improve workflows, training, and ergonomics for efficiency and safety
- Packaging, Handling, Storage & Transportation ensures equipment arrives in the right condition
- Facilities provide the infrastructure for efficient system support.
- Disposal requires careful planning for compliance, safety, and minimal environmental impact
- Whole Life Costs guide smarter investments by assessing long-term financial impacts
A good Supportability Engineer should help organisations take control of their assets, reduce costs, and maximise performance.
Why Choose Quorum for Your Engineering Support?
At Quorum, we believe that advanced Engineering Support Systems are fundamental to achieving operational excellence. By integrating cutting-edge technology with tailored solutions, we help you enhance reliability, reduce costs, and maximise the value of your assets.
Investing in the right Engineering Support Systems today ensures a sustainable, efficient, and mission-ready future. Partner with Quorum to revolutionise your approach to asset management and supportability.
Book an informal chat with Shaun for a free consultation and discover how ILS can propel your operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness to new heights.
+44 (0)1952 671950
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