This project proposes the implementation of a web-based logistics information system to act as a single platform for the Naval supply chain and ship customers for efficient logistics planning and execution, and as an information system for enterprise knowledge management. The capability of a web-based system will optimize Naval supply chain operations, significantly reduce man-hours, provide a mechanism for continuous process improvement, and enable the Naval supply system to become a learning organization.
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
BACKGROUND—THE NEED FOR BETTER KNOWLEDGE
Department of the Navy (DON) Objective
Navy Supply Systems Command’s (NAVSUP) Vision for
NAVSUP’s Initiatives
Define and develop information technology requirements that enable remote support and solutions that fully support the operational supply chain. Although the initiatives did not define the concept of an online information system, business-to-business (B2B) information technology in the commercial world has been proven to provide successful information exchange, remote support, and common and coordinated logistics plans and requirements.
WHAT THIS PROJECT WILL DO
SHIPBOARD REQUIREMENTS AND NAVAL GLOBAL LOGISTICS
SHIPBOARD REQUIREMENTS
- Material Management Requirement
- Provision
- Maintenance
- Fuel
- Ammunition
When the ship is in a foreign port, mail is forwarded to the local support organization or to the US Embassy. The provisions are consumed when delivered to the galley for crew consumption.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)
- Navy Inventory Control Point (NAVICP)
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
- Commander Fleet Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCs)
- United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)
NAVSUP administers the Navy Food Service Program, the Household Supplies Program, the ATM-at-Sea Program, and the Mail Program. The Navy Exchange System also manages the Navy's clothing program, providing both uniforms and specialized protective clothing to the Navy. Provides centralized inventory management and business systems development for all of the Navy's non-nuclear missiles, bombs, bullets, mines and torpedoes.
The command has three components: the Air Forces Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois; the navy's military sea transport.
HISTORY OF NAVY FLEET LOGISTICS SUPPORT
LOGISTICS SUPPLY SUPPORT ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
Navy supply logistics support is accomplished through a broad network of support activities to ensure that operational units receive timely support, which includes training, materiel, supply, mail, ammunition, and fuel requirements.
ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WITH NAVY SUPPLY LOGISTICS
- Predeployment Brief Problems
- Supply Officers Lack Sufficient Knowledge on Naval Logistics
- Lack of Sufficient Logistics Information and Available
- Personnel and Material Visibility Problem
- Miscommunication Problems
- Insufficient Ports Information
- Lack of Port Service Lessons Learned and Experience Sharing
- Port Service Contract Administration Problems
Some parts status listings are useless for the ship and others are wrong. When this happens, frustration usually ensues between the ship's captain and the supply officer. Many follow-up emails must be generated between the ship and the support activity for clarification and service request.
Equipment follows the ship throughout the deployment and never reaches the ship.
WHAT IS THE NAVY DOING?
- Training Emphasis on Maintaining Accountability and
- More Aggressive Audits and Training by Assistant Training
- Improve Capability on OTS for Better Asset Visibility
- Use Customer Surveys to Gauge the Level of Customer
- Reports
The material is placed on the ships of the Military Sealift Command and directed to the wrong places. It also has another feature to show who has checked the status - a feature unrelated to customer needs. Once deployed overseas, LSRs still provide valuable support to convey materials and requirements to ships.
For the repair parts report, ships use the R-Supply system to provide electronic reports to the TYCOM for assets on board the ships.
CONCLUSION
THE ANSWER TO THE NAVY’S LOGISTICS SUPPORT PROBLEMS
The answer to solving the Navy's logistics support problems is to learn the best practices of commercial companies. Use information technology to achieve drastic improvement in logistics support that will reduce the workload, and provide information sharing for effective planning and execution. While restructuring will achieve some efficiencies, the adoption of information technology will result in even greater operational efficiencies, usually leading to further streamlining of functions or organizational restructuring.
RESTRUCTURE
LEVERAGE ON MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IMPLEMENT WEB-BASED LOGISTICS INFORMATION
What is the System?
The Benefit of the System
System solution: All supporting commands will provide their share of the information and all information will be sent to the interested customer. System Solution: Miscommunication problems are often caused by different information provided by the Beach DET and LSD ships. Fleet problem: Problems with administration of port service contracts System solution: Problems with administration of port service contracts consist of insufficient knowledge, bill payment and less than satisfactory contractor performance.
Fleet Problem: The material follows the ship for the duration of the deployment and never reaches the ship.
CONCEPT OF WEB-BASED FLEET LOGISTICS SUPPORT SYSTEM
FUNCTIONAL CONCEPTS
Administrative Commands
Although NAVSUP and SURFOR actively cooperate in communicating information through messages, publications, e-mails and various websites, it is very difficult to determine how effective these media are in ensuring that important information reaches everyone who needs it. The lack of a structured information system with a single source creates large knowledge gaps in various fields. Data Entry: NAVSUP, SURFOR and COMFISC may use their websites to provide information to the fleet.
It is human nature to put one's best foot forward and when situations are bleak, many are compelled to put a positive spin on the report.
Logistics Support Commands
Data entry: The information useful to the fleet from these commands is the status of the shipment of emergency material. The real answer is to understand what is important to the customer and structure the status information with a focus on where the part is and when it will be delivered. Understanding what information should be available to ships is very important to understand.
Anything else would be good to know, but of little value to the ships and just raises more questions.
Customer Unit Level Portal
CONCEPTUAL WEB CONTENT
- Only One Web Page to Navigate from for Essential Functions
- Easy to Use
- Open Architecture
- Avoid the Temptation to Build the System to Solve Every Need
It was advertised to the Supply Officers on board as the web page where all logistics information could be provided. The navigation and operation of the system should be self-explanatory and easy to use. The added benefit is that information pushdown from the higher echelon commands to the logistics workforce is included.
The danger of losing sight of the main goal is activities that attempt to require the system to solve all their needs which will ultimately make the system less useful to the customers.
CONCEPTUAL WEB DESIGN IDEAS
It should have a feedback link so users can give their input or questions directly back to the command responsible for the information. After choosing where to go, the link directs the user to the other page to perform its functions. Inside this link is information about a port where a ship can plan its visit and service/material requisition during the port visit, important to the commanding officer and supply officer.
This function provides information and guidance to the supply officer on his roles and responsibilities to ensure the proper management of port services.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM
In addition, to ensure continuous improvement of the Logistics Information System, there should be a feedback repository for each functional assignment so that their page can be changed to suit their needs. Port service requests should be limited to only the Supply Officer and parts requisition may be limited to only the Storekeeper depending on how the crew on board is structured. Due to the sensitivity of some information in the database, SURFOR or COMFISC may not want to share some lessons learned or feedback with everyone.
Access to these areas can be restricted and the personnel responsible for these areas at SURFOR and COMFISCs can make changes or make the necessary changes before releasing them to the fleet.
RISKS AND MITIGATION
Information Security Concerns
Improper processing with a delayed schedule will lead to non-delivery of material and adversely affect ship readiness. Therefore, access to the ship's schedule should be restricted to commands and individuals with a need to know. For example, in relation to the ship's schedule, all authorized personnel on the ship and in operational commands will have full access to the ship's long- and short-range schedule, but in material track activities, the only information that need to know is where to send. current material in hand.
Therefore, the personnel at these commands do not need to know where the ship is now and where it is going.
The Threat of Loss of Data
Since all users are customers of the system, anyone can provide input to reports or information sharing specific to his area of responsibility, there are very few commands that have information updating responsibilities and are only allowed to make changes within their areas of expertise.
POTENTIAL DOD-WIDE USE OF THE SYSTEM
- Market Maturity Environment in the Operating Area
- Lessons Not Learned and Poorly Written Contingency
- Planning Input
- IMPLEMENTATION
According to accounts from contingency contractors returned from Iraq, contingency contracting in Iraq was chaotic for a long time. The contingency contract support plan was poorly written and the lessons learned from other contingency operations were not translated into a better understanding of the contracting environment. Information simply did not get where it was supposed to - the result of a lack of structured, user-focused information push.
Online logistics systems will contain policies, instructions and information on individual problem areas.
FEASIBILITY OF SUCH AN INFORMATION SYSTEM
Maturity of Technology
Evidence of Commercial Employment of a Web-Based
Functional Requirements for the Naval Logistics Information
Training modules on supply system and logistics supply chain information, leadership books, effective communication, bottom line writing, public speaking, etc. are available to develop the Supply Officer. Forms, FITREP/EVAL writing instructions, examples, and other administrative instructions are selectively pushed to assist in the day-to-day operations of the Supply Officer.
IMPLEMENTATION
Phase I: Development
Commitment of NAVSUP with the right vision: The most important factor in the successful implementation of the system is the commitment of NAVSUP with the right vision. The commitment of NAVSUP's top management will ensure sufficient resources and clear leadership resulting from the right vision. Therefore, the success of the system depends on the systematic evaluation of values and the reassignment of commands and functions.
If not, it's time to get rid of the requirement to save time and energy.
Phase II: Fielding Navy Knowledge Management and
The user should not have to search around the page to find what he wants.
Phase III: DOD-Wide Implementation
OBSTACLES FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW TO
- Personnel Resistance
- Lack of Attention to Drive the Process
- Stovepipe Implementation that Ignores Customer Needs
- CONCLUSION
The Navy's logistics system lacks a single modern information technology system to link supporting commands and customer commands for information sharing. It is a platform that will enable the Navy Supply System to become a learning organization, which will constantly evolve by capturing the lessons and recommendations made by each user. Only the Web-based Fleet Logistics Information System can provide solutions to address the problems the Navy's supply support system is experiencing and must be adopted immediately.
The Secretary of the Navy's FY 2008 Posture Statement: Investing in the Future as You Prepare for the Future.
