DMSMS Knowledge Sharing Portal

The DMSMS Knowledge Sharing Portal (DKSP) is focused on being a non-biased one-stop provider of DMSMS related information, resources and material to empower the Department of Defense (DoD) community, both Organic and Industrial, to implement best practices for monitoring, tracking, resolving, and performing analytical logistic and engineering analysis related to obsolescence impacts. Utilization of the DKSP as a resource facilitates optimal resolution, test, parts management, design, upgrade and redesign methodologies, thereby minimizing detrimental weapons systems readiness resulting from DMSMS and obsolescence impacts.

Background Product lines are discontinued when the economic factors for their continuance are unfavorable. As the market shifts to a new technology, demand is reduced for earlier models and configurations and the cost for supporting the technology escalates. Suppliers must either raise the price (to maintain profit margins and offset reduction in demand) or terminate the product line. Accepting price increases or diminished availability as the supplier eliminates the remaining inventory are poor choices for the customer. In the end, customers pay significantly increased sustainment costs and are eventually forced to upgrade or replace systems with newer technologies. This is referred to as Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). To fully understand the DMS concept, examine the life cycle of technology. Just like living things, technology goes through a development life cycle: birth, maturity, illness, death, and replacement. All commercial technologies go through a similar cycle; only the length of the cycle varies. This community deals with Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS), defined as: the loss, or impending loss, of the last known manufacturer or supplier of raw materials and other critical components for production or repair parts. DMSMS problems are an increasing concern as the service lives of DoD weapon systems are extended and the product life cycle for high technology components decrease.

DMSMS Knowledge Sharing Portal The DKSP content is extensive and organized on the left of the page in a user-friendly format for easy navigation. A brief description of the format structure for content in each of the Topic areas:

Conferences and Events:

• Content sorted into two sub-categories:
  • One specifically for Conferences
  • The second for any other DMSMS related Events (Workshops, Clinics, Forums, Symposiums, etc)

DMSMS Training Courses:

• Listing of DMSMS and other related training that is available

Organizations and Groups:

• Content sorted into the following sub-categories: DoD, DLA, Other Government, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Industry

Tools and Management Aids:

• Content sorted into the following sub-categories: DoD, DLA, Other Government, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Industry

Policy and Guidance:

• Content is first sorted into the following sub-categories: DoD, DLA, Other Government, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Industry
• The content in each sub-category is further sorted into Policy, Guidance, and Manuals/Handbooks categories
• The DMSMS Guidebook is available, as well.

DMSMS Library:

• Content sorted into the following sub-categories: DoD, DLA, Other Government, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Industry 

For DMSMS-specific Service points of contact, please contact GIDEP at dksp@gidep.org.