ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. - Daryl Greene is innovative. He's efficient. And, he's passionate about the effectiveness and proficiency of logistics system training.

Even so, the depot management analyst said he's not looking to be in the limelight after recently creating a software tool to help track training in the depot's Logistics Modernization Program Office.

Greene used his Excel know-how (and his productive nature) to develop codes in the software that allow the user to perform operations within fields and windows similar to what's seen in Web-based programs.

"I just love projects like this," said Greene. "And, I hope we can use this tool for other training databases. With a little tweaking, it can be used with just about anything you need to organize electronically."

Teams are working long hours here to ensure that Anniston Army Depot's transition from Standard Depot System to LMP is seamless. And, training is one of the keys to a trouble-free changeover when the depot deploys LMP in October 2010.

This password-protected tool has made a significant impact on operations within the LMP training office, said Randy White, supervisor of logistics management and manager of LMP training at ANAD.

"Time saved (with this tool) is immeasurable," said White.

Greene's invention was born out of a need to track his own LMP training and that of his colleagues in the LMP Training Cadre. Only four people have access to it.

"Because we had a lot of different classes, we needed a way to keep up with all of it," said Greene.

The cadre of 10 people is responsible for preparing the workforce for LMP deployment through small, group-based instruction. But first, cadre members must receive their own training.

Already, the cadre and others identified as subject matter experts, or SMEs, on depot are taking courses to learn how their roles will be affected by the changeover from the current, decades-old SDS to LMP, which offers real-time data input and output.

Greene and other members of the LMP cadre are charged with developing and sustaining courseware, training, education programs and training delivery systems. Additionally, this group provides technical expertise on the operation of the demand management, material planning, master scheduling and capacity management functions of the LMP system.

Though it's primarily used for scheduling and notification of training courses, White said Greene's tool has the capabilities to do so much more.

"The amount of training required to implement this system (LMP) is monumental," said White. "Our greatest effort forthcoming is end-user training."

End users are the depot employees that will be using LMP throughout each workday to perform their duties. White estimates there are more than 1,200 end users at ANAD.

To better explain how Greene's training matrix is benefiting the government and its stakeholders, White pointed to the scheduled end-user training courses and what it's going to take to track the progress when those courses begin next year.

White said the end users are expected to complete training in "multiple classes in multiple locations," which "equates to 100 or more depot employees everyday in a minimum of five locations throughout the depot."

"Without Greene's tool, this would take numerous hours of labor intensive planning and scheduling," said White.

The 160 courses currently loaded in the Excel matrix are part of LMP's Business Design Workshops. With eight spreadsheets in the tool, Greene and his teammates can easily and quickly generate reports showing who has or has not taken assigned classes and then, through a selection on the tool's menu, send a group email to remind employees and their supervisors when they're scheduled for a class.

"This (Excel tool) started out as a way to better organize all this information so people would know how to plan and not be surprised," said Greene.