The NMCS target percentage is?

• A. 5%
• B. 10%
• C. 15%
• D. 0%

Answer: (A)

Not Mission Capable Supply (NMCS) measures how often maintenance requirements can’t be fulfilled because required parts aren’t available when needed. The NMCS target percentage is the level at which you want to keep that non-fulfillment rate to maintain readiness without overstocking parts.

The commonly adopted target is five percent. This reflects a practical balance: most systems can meet mission needs most of the time while still allowing for some inevitable backorders due to supplier lead times, obsolescence, or demand variability. Keeping NMCS around five percent signals a healthy, responsive supply chain and encourages actions to improve parts availability without tying up excessive inventory and cost.

If NMCS were much higher, it would indicate frequent shortages that hurt readiness and would prompt corrective actions such as revising stocking levels, prioritizing critical items, or working with suppliers to speed up delivery. If it were zero, that would be an unrealistic goal for complex operations with diverse parts and lengthy supply lines. The five percent target is a practical standard that aligns readiness goals with manageable procurement and inventory practices.