What is the difference between cannibalization and salvage in Materiel Management?

Cannibalization refers to the practice of using parts from unserviceable or damaged items to repair or maintain other equipment. This process allows organizations to maximize the use of their available resources by taking functional components from items that can no longer serve their original purpose. The goal is to extend the life of other assets without incurring additional costs for new parts.

Salvage, on the other hand, typically involves the process of recovering value from unserviceable items through resale or recycling. It focuses on extracting usable or saleable components from items that are no longer in service and can generate some return on investment when sold to other entities or businesses.

This distinction highlights that while both concepts deal with unserviceable items, cannibalization specifically relates to the strategic repair of existing equipment, whereas salvage focuses on the potential financial recovery from disposed materials.