>...Once that process is killed the next dsmc arch command is issued and
>runs without problem.

Jim - Sounds like a problem gaining access to the file or, internally,
      a section of it, due to locks.  Given that your example was
that of a .dbf file, this would seem to be the case.  You may want
to avoid archiving such files in general, using EXCLUDE.ARCHIVE as
appropriate.  Use TDP or a utility provided with the database
product to make image copies of such files.

   Richard Sims, BU