IMC's JIT Supply Chain/Logistics
The military has assorted equipment such as jeeps, trucks and tanks deployed in "hot spots" like Iraq or stored in depots on temporary or permanent bases. As part of its preparedness strategy, it must efficiently requisition these light armored vehicles (LAV) from storage or redeploy them from one location to another within a combat arena to support its war fighters. Existing military LAV supply chain/logistics solutions, however, are largely manual. When war fighters in the field or personnel on bases need LAVs, they requisition them by phoning a Chief Petty Officer with a request. The Officer pulls up inventory on his PC, evaluates his available inventory and calls the appropriate depots to have them ship it. Then he adjusts his inventory figures appropriately.
While the process sounds simple enough, it's neither cost-effective nor does it get equipment to the right location fast. With its current methods, to ensure readiness, the military overstocks its depots which inevitably drives up warehousing costs. Because it maintains inventory data via phone and human data input, it's often inaccurate. As a result, supply chain/logistics operations depend too much on human expertise in individual's heads which also leads to human error — often shipments contain the wrong equipment or the equipment is sent to the wrong location or is late in arriving.
The JIT Supply Chain/Logistics solution leverages IMC's Integrated Digital Collaborative Environment (IDCE) to drive down cost and vastly improve supply chain/logistics operations by providing a broadband network-enabled portal infrastructure for managing all data pertaining to the requisition, warehousing and deployment of LAVs.
From networked PCs and laptop computers, war fighters, warehouse and other personnel collaborate over broadband networks and the portal which links to data repositories in applications that span supply chains like warehouse and inventory management systems.
Within this integrated and synchronized digital environment:
- war fighters can submit requisitions
- support personnel can monitor inventory
- warehouse personnel can fulfill requests
- and shipping personnel can act on deliveries
Using a common though customizable interface, all parties monitor the status of these activities so staff stock more according to need because they know what equipment is already deployed or is warehoused elsewhere. The automated system also reduces ad hoc verbal communication and provides a 360 degree view of equipment identification numbers and descriptions which minimizes misinterpretation and inaccurate data. The result is a vastly accelerated and efficient demand-driven supply chain.
IMC's JIT Supply Chain/Logistics solution is J2EE-based, so it can operate across disparate legacy platforms. It also readily integrates with legacy systems via portlets and web services which saves on integration costs. It's appropriate for any Department of Defense agency requiring management of fluid data in multiple repositories to drive just-in-time supply chain operations for equipment like LAVs The hosted version especially complements supply chain communication and interoperation across great geographic distances and among functionally quite different organizations and constituencies.