Material refers to all supplies, equipment, and repair parts owned by the Postal Service. Material planning encompasses and incorporates the arrangements and preparations essential to logistics and the processes associated with logistics. These activities span from receipt of the material until disposal.
Conducting material planning accomplishes the Postal Service objective of providing quality material responsively and cost-effectively. The information garnered during material planning activities feeds into Sections 5-3, Implement Life Cycle Support Plan and 5-4, Develop, Finalize, and Implement Inventory Control Plan.
The item manager is responsible for conducting material planning activities, with the support of the client, CO, and supplier. Conducting material planning activities involves: