Military Logistics Management for the Next Conflict

1. Military Logistics Management for the Next Conflict Chris Ballard, Wyly Gilfoil, Kathy Lau, Jay Miseli, Scott Ostrowski, Sebastien Prangere, Sug Je Sohn, Heather Stevenson, Jaroslav Tyman

2. Agenda and Organization • Introduction • Demand • Wyly Gilfoil, Jay Miseli • Feasibility • Kathy Lau, Scott Ostrowski, Heather Stevenson, Jaroslav Tyman • Applicability • Chris Ballard, Sebastien Prangere, Sug Je Sohn • Recommendations

3. Mission Plan By April 19, 2004, determine the demand for, feasibility and applicability of refinement of Army logistics operations at multiple echelons for future conflicts.

4. Agenda • Introduction • Demand • Feasibility • Applicability • Recommendations

5. DemandRole and Plan • Role • Determine if need for logistics reform exists in U.S. Army • If need exists, identify capabilities required to accomplish logistics reform • Plan • Step 1 – Research relevant documents dealing with logistics in Operation Iraqi Freedom • Step 2 – Conduct online survey posing questions about logistics issues and possible solutions

6. DemandTask Accomplished • Relevant Articles • Army Logistics: Our Reality, Our Future • Logistics white paper • Moving those beans and bullets • Sustainment of the army depends on continuing logistics transformation • DLA: Logistics backbone of Iraqi Freedom • Delivering logistics readiness to the warfighter • After-action Reviews Utilized • 3rd Infantry Division (mechanized) • HHC, Task Force 2-69 Armor • C/1-3 ADA • HHC/1-24 Infantry • Completed Web-based Survey

7. DemandLiterature Search Results • Connect logisticians at all levels (e.g. logistics internet at all echelons) • Issues in OIF: • Lack of inventory visibility • Lack of adequate communication • Modernize supply distribution • Issues in OIF: • Lack of shipment tracking • Lack of adequate shipment records

8. DemandSurvey Results • 2 Key Capabilities • Information flow with feedback mechanism • Prefer existing technology (i.e. FBCB2) • Requirements sent higher with digital record and projected fill time (or availability feedback) along with % requirement to be delivered • Must interface with all levels of logistics support • Inventory/shipment resource • UPS Package Tracking, Amazon.com order filling, etc. • Linked to logistics network – tells system what is where and tracks progress of the resource towards designated unit

9. DemandDesired Process X X Process Repeats Until Resource Is Delivered Resource Available? Resource Available? Information Network Next Higher Logistics Node Automated Inventory and Shipment Tracking (Interfaces w/ Network) Resource Required No Brigade Logistics Node Yes Resource No Resource Not Available! Resource Delivered Resource Required No Battalion Logistics Node Resource Yes No Status Info Resource Required Resource Not Available! Request Resource Delivered Company Command Post And Logistics Node Resupply Resource Expended Resource Expended

10. Agenda • Introduction • Demand • Feasibility • Applicability • Recommendations

11. FeasibilityOverview • Introduction • Determine the feasibility of improving military logistics flow during wartime • Identify platform, echelon, and technical aspects of potential systems • 2 Recommendations: • Entirely New System • Upgrade Existing Technologies

12. FeasibilityNew System • Hardware Options • Desktop, Notebook/Tablet, PDA • Operating Systems • Linux, Windows, Apple, Other

13. FeasibilityNew System • Software - the deciding factor • Availability vs. customizability • Available • Microsoft, Apple, Other, etc… • Customizable • Linux, Other, etc…

14. FeasibilityNew System • Advantage: superior flexibility • Custom build software to suit needs • Hardware can be used for many other tasks • Off the shelf components reduce downtime • Disadvantages: • Cost: Estimated $1 billion • Training time: days to weeks • Time to market

15. FeasibilityProposed Process: New System X X Process Repeats Until Resource Is Delivered Information Network: Army Tactical Internet Next Higher Logistics Node Automated Inventory and Shipment Tracking (Interfaces w/ Network) Resource Required No Desktop Laptop Brigade Logistics Node Yes Resource No Resource Not Available! Resource Delivered Resource Required No Battalion Logistics Node Resource PDA Yes No Status Info Resource Required Resource Not Available! Request Resource Delivered Company Command Post And Logistics Node Resupply Resource Expended Resource Expended

16. FeasibilityExisting Army Systems • Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) • Provides battle command and situational awareness information • Digitally networks tactical units through Army Tactical Internet • Currently implemented at Brigade and below units

17. FeasibilityExisting Army Systems • Combat Service Support Control System (CSSCS) • Rapidly collects, stores, analyzes, and disseminates critical logistics, medical, and personnel information • Digitally networks logisticians • Currently implemented at Brigade and above units

18. FeasibilityExisting Army Systems • Advantages • Widely accepted and understood • Low cost of augmentation • Encrypted • Field proven • Disadvantages • Two systems not currently linked • Limited flexibility • Recommendations • Augment FBCB2 & CSSCS to interface and share information

19. FeasibilityProposed Process: Augment Existing X X Process Repeats Until Resource Is Delivered Information Network: Army Tactical Internet CSSCS Next Higher Logistics Node Automated Inventory and Shipment Tracking (Interfaces w/ Network) Resource Required No FBCB2 CSSCS Brigade Logistics Node Yes Resource No Resource Not Available! Resource Delivered Resource Required No Battalion Logistics Node Resource FBCB2 Yes No Status Info Resource Required Resource Not Available! Request Resource Delivered Company Command Post And Logistics Node Resupply Resource Expended Resource Expended

20. FeasibilitySummary

21. Agenda • Introduction • Demand • Feasibility • Applicability • Recommendations

22. ApplicabilityAnalysis Plan • Analysis Plan • Part 1: Identification of the technological characteristics • Technology strategy • Competitive priorities of feasible technologies • Sources of innovation • Who/what/where/how (Value chain analysis) • Measures of performance • Remaining technical challenges • Push versus pull technology and its likely ramifications • Part 2: Operations strategy for military logistics management • Satisfying the identified demands • Identifying and resolving the barriers of implementation • Identifying, assessing, and improving the value chain model of military supply system • Conclusions

23. ApplicabilityPart I:Identification of the technological characteristics • Value Chain Overview Optimized Supply Instructions LogisticsPlanning System Supply Commands and Master Plans Resource Supply System Logistics Nodes (Brigade/ Battalion/ Company Command post) Military Logistics Communication System Information Symmetry Operations Planning System Field Troops Physical Resource Allocation Inventory Status Report and Supply Request

24. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Technology Strategy • Determine Fundamental Issues • Examine Results of Demand and Feasibility Subgroups • Compare and Contrast Results with Applicability Analysis • Determine Technology Recommendation

25. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Competitive Priorities • Reliability • Convenience and user-friendliness • Customizability • As cheap as possible • Sources of Innovation • Demand and Feasibility work • Existing technologies and logistics networks

26. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Value Chain Model • Fundamental Enablers • Mobile communication and computing technology • Operations management technology • Collaborative physical logistics system • Uniqueness/Sustainability • Military-customized PDA • Easy and high performances planning and tracking software • Barcode and RFID systems • Cross-disciplinary education and training programs • Value Chain Transformation • The biggest change is on the communication system • Transition from an imperfect symmetry of information

27. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Measures of Performance • Effectiveness is more critical than efficiency • Focused effectiveness • Speed • Accuracy • Reliability • Security • Quality measure • Product-based measure • Operations-based measure • Value-based measure

28. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Analysis and Assessment of Remaining Challenges • Network • Existing architecture includes multiple infrastructures • Logistics communication architecture has significant limitations • Security issues • Potential for unintended consequences • Security • Management • Over-reliance • Process Methodology • Extensive use of MS Windows and MS applications • De facto standardized use of PDA’s

29. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Analysis and Assessment of Remaining Challenges (cont’d) • Data Input/Output • Interoperability • Multiple systems in existing architecture • Growing trend towards use of .xml format • User Interface • Prolific use of MS Windows, PDA, and other similarly formatted interface • Field conditions

30. ApplicabilityPart I: Identification of the technological characteristics • Technology Transfer and Diffusion • Critical factor 1: Standardization • Interoperability between users, information, and resources • Critical factor 2: Training and instruction • Training of IT skills and cross-discipline operations • Critical factor 3: Simulation before implementation • Pilot and human-embedded simulation to reduce cultural friction

31. ApplicabilityPart II: Operations strategy for military logistics management • Question 1: • How can we satisfy the identified demands ? • Answer: • The best way to implement the system is to create a tracking system with modified versions of FBCB2-CSSCS networks.

32. ApplicabilityPart II: Operations strategy for military logistics management • Question 2: • What are the barriers in implementing the technologies in the current setting of business (military), and how can we resolve the difficulties? • Answer: • Network infrastructure and de facto standards of software and hardware. • Resolution is most favorable through adapting and leveraging when possible off existing programs. • Integrate with current and near-future technological environment • Understand the network and system security requirements

33. ApplicabilityPart II: Operations strategy for military logistics management • Question 3: • What does the value chain model of military supply system look like? What is the weakest link, if exists, and how can we strengthen the value on it? • Answer: • Typically, many of state-of-the-art management information systems fail in implementing the seamless coordination between human factors and the IT system. • The weakest point is the insufficient collaboration of physical supply system and field users with the IT system. • The management should consider some forms of promoting actions such as rewards and incentives, innovative education, practical training, operations simulation, and gradual deployment of system.

34. ApplicabilityPart II: Operations strategy for military logistics management • Value Chain Model (Revisited) Optimized Supply Instructions Supply Commands and Master Plans LogisticsPlanning System Resource Supply System Logistics Nodes (Brigade/ Battalion/ Company Command post) Military Logistics Communication System Information Symmetry Operations Planning System Field Troops Physical Resource Allocation Inventory Status Report and Supply Request

35. Agenda • Introduction • Demand • Feasibility • Applicability • Recommendations

36. Conclusion Recommend augmentation of existing systems (rather than new development) • Existing systems offer opportunity to leverage capabilities • Most of the remaining challenges are currently being addressed by technology developments in Army R&D • Least disruption on value chain

37. Questions?