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
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
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.
Agenda
Introduction
Demand
Feasibility
Applicability
Recommendations
Demand
Role 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
Demand
Task 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
Demand
Literature 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
Demand
Survey 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
Demand
Desired Process
Information Network
Process Repeats Until
Resource Is Delivered
Automated Inventory and
Shipment Tracking
(Interfaces w/ Network)
No
Resource
Resource
Available?
Resource
Delivered
X
No
Yes
Brigade
Logistics
Node
Resource
Not
Available!
Resource
Required
No
Battalion
Logistics
Node
Resource
Available?
No
Status Info
Request
Next Higher
Logistics
Node
Resource
Required
Yes
Resource
X
Resource
Delivered
Resource
Required
Resource
Not
Available!
Resupply
Resource Expended
Resource
Expended
Company
Command Post
And
Logistics Node
Agenda
Introduction
Demand
Feasibility
Applicability
Recommendations
Feasibility
Overview
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
Feasibility
New System
Hardware Options
• Desktop, Notebook/Tablet, PDA
Operating Systems
• Linux, Windows, Apple, Other
Feasibility
New System
Software - the deciding factor
• Availability vs. customizability
 Available
– Microsoft, Apple, Other, etc…
 Customizable
– Linux, Other, etc…
Feasibility
New 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
Feasibility
Proposed Process: New System
Information Network:
Army Tactical Internet
Process Repeats Until
Resource Is Delivered
Automated Inventory and
Shipment Tracking
(Interfaces w/ Network)
No
Resource
Desktop
Laptop
Resource
Delivered
X
No
Yes
Brigade
Logistics
Node
Resource
Not
Available!
Resource
Required
No
Battalion
Logistics
Node
PDA
No
Status Info
Request
Next Higher
Logistics
Node
Resource
Required
Yes
Resource
X
Resource
Delivered
Resource
Required
Resource
Not
Available!
Resupply
Resource Expended
Resource
Expended
Company
Command Post
And
Logistics Node
Feasibility
Existing 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
Feasibility
Existing 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
Feasibility
Existing 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
Feasibility
Proposed Process: Augment Existing
Information Network:
Army Tactical Internet
CSSCS
Process Repeats Until
Resource Is Delivered
Automated Inventory and
Shipment Tracking
(Interfaces w/ Network)
No
Resource
FBCB2
CSSCS
Resource
Delivered
X
No
Yes
Brigade
Logistics
Node
Resource
Not
Available!
Resource
Required
No
Battalion
Logistics
Node
FBCB2
No
Status Info
Request
Next Higher
Logistics
Node
Resource
Required
Yes
Resource
X
Resource
Delivered
Resource
Required
Resource
Not
Available!
Resupply
Resource Expended
Resource
Expended
Company
Command Post
And
Logistics Node
Feasibility
Summary
Agenda
Introduction
Demand
Feasibility
Applicability
Recommendations
Applicability
Analysis 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
Applicability
Part I: Identification of the technological characteristics
Value Chain Overview
Optimized
Supply
Instructions
Resource
Supply System
Supply Commands
and Master Plans
Logistics
Planning
System
Military Logistics
Communication System
Information Symmetry
Physical
Resource
Allocation
Field Troops
Inventory Status
Report and Supply
Request
Logistics Nodes
(Brigade/
Battalion/
Company
Command post)
Operations
Planning
System
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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.
Applicability
Part 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
Applicability
Part 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.
Applicability
Part II: Operations strategy for military logistics management
Value Chain Model (Revisited)
Optimized
Supply
Instructions
Resource
Supply System
Logistics
Planning
System
Supply Commands
and Master Plans
Logistics Nodes
(Brigade/
Battalion/
Company
Command post)
Military Logistics
Communication System
Information Symmetry
Physical
Resource
Allocation
Field Troops
Inventory Status
Report and Supply
Request
Operations
Planning
System
Agenda
Introduction
Demand
Feasibility
Applicability
Recommendations
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
Questions?