Sustainers visit UPS Worldport

By Maj. Joel AndersonAugust 7, 2013

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Members of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Support Operations Mobility Branch (SPO-MB), based out of Fort Knox, conducted a tour of the United Parcel Service (UPS) Worldport Operations Facility in Louisville, Ky. on July 25.

This unique opportunity provided Sustainers with a chance to share best practices with one of the Army's and Department of Defense's (DoD) most important strategic partners.

The tour gave the members of the SPO-MB a chance to view, up-close and personal, the many innovations of UPS. This included designs such as merge logic, contingency planning, and anticipatory logistics planning considerations with enterprise partners.

Maj. Christopher S. Wright, the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the SPO Mobility Land Branch with the 3d ESC, felt the trip was very informative and offered a look at how UPS operates.

"The best thing about UPS Worldport was their package tracking capability

which allowed for in-transit visibility (ITV) and dynamic operations management," said Wright. "Their operational model combined with common-sense technology has enabled the operations staff to obtain transportation efficiencies that set the standard."

Kevin Schoerlucke, assistant vice-president for community relations for UPS in Louisville said he was pleased to see Soldiers from the 3d ESC.

"We appreciate when one of our partners, such as the members of 3d ESC, come out to see our operation and discuss our on-going partnership in a meaningful manner," said Schoerlucke.

Schoerlucke also highlighted characteristics of Worldport for the SPO-MB group, to include the facilities 155 miles of conveyor belts and 4,500 miles of fiber-optic cabling.

Tour highlights included the automated sorting facility, aircraft fleet, global reach, contingency and air freight operations.