What is Performance Based Logistics (PBL)?
PBL is the DoD strategy to alter logistics practices to the practice of buying outcomes rather than products or services. The complete Defense Acquisition University (DAU) PBL Guide is available here. PBL is prescribed in the 2003 version of DoD Directive 5000.1, The Defense Acquisition System and is required for all new weapon systems and Acquisition Category (ACAT) I and II fielded systems.


What are the Potential Improvements Due to the Implementation of PBL?
An effective PBL program for a significant logistics activity can easily require 18 to 36 months from concept to implementation. Since there are few PBL programs prior to 2003, there does not yet exist a lengthy list of success stories. Nevertheless, some of the documented successes are:

• A reduction in USN tires held in inventory - from 50,000 to ~ 13,000 while availability rates have increased from 81% to 99% (Michelin Aircraft Tires Corp. and Lockheed Martin).
• F/A 18 A-D spares: backorders reduced from an average of 420 to zero (Smiths Aerospace).
• A reduction in the cost per flying hour of the USN GE F404 engine while increasing availability from 43% to 96% (GE).

Why Select Belzon to Assist with the Development of a PBL Program?
Belzon PBL Subject Matter Experts are Senior DoD/Army Logisticians who have extensive experience in economic analyses, process reengineering, enterprise assessments, lean manufacturing, Supply Chain Management (SCM), organizational structuring, cost analyses, and the PBL staffing process. Specifically, Belzon analysts have been actively engaged in the development of current Army PBL programs and their implementation, as well as predecessor process improvement efforts. For a current listing of PBL and BCA efforts accomplished or underway, contact us at gcurtis@belzon.com. A primary advantage of selecting Belzon to facilitate a new or updated PBL program and/or prepare the BCA is that we are completely independent. Accordingly, our recommendations are without bias towards a given solution.


PBL White Papers
On a biweekly schedule Belzon provides a PBL White Paper that addresses specific topics of interest. These are gleaned from our experience, actual lessons learned through actual PBL program implementation knowledge and from questions submitted.

Click here to see the list of past newsletter topics.

If you have a .gov or a .mil e-mail address and you would like to receive these white papers, enter your email address below. Or, if you already are signed up for our white paper enter your email address to go to our downloads page.

Your email address:

If you have a PBL issue that you'd like to see addressed in a future white paper, use the form below. You must be subscribed to our white papers to make a suggestion.

Your Email Address:

Your Suggestion:

Contact Us
To contact Belzon PBL Subject Matter Experts (SME), Senior Logisticians and experienced Business Case Analysis (BCA) analysts, click here.

Belzon...we don't talk PBL…we do PBL!