Maintenance spare parts logistics: Special characteristics and strategic choices

The diversity of the operational control characteristics of spare parts is taken as a basis for supporting the planning and designing of a spare parts logistics system. Four control characteristics of maintenance spare parts - criticality, specificity, demand pattern, and value of parts - are discussed in terms of their effects on logistics system elements - network structure, positioning of materials, responsibility of control, and control principles. Distinct operating policies for different types of parts in the spare parts supply chain are illustrated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.