TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- Four teams of technicians here have finished installing nearly 200 wireless access points across Tobyhanna Army Depot that will improve shop floor automation and provide increased data entry capabilities.
The project, aimed at providing two-way communication capabilities to and from automatic identification technology (AIT) devices, was scheduled to wrap up late last month. However, thanks to an all-hands-on-deck effort, the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) installation was completed three weeks early at a considerable cost-savings.
"Exceptional administrative support and network maintenance were what really helped drive the install and minimize costs," said Jude Buckwalter, Tobyhanna's WLAN project manager. He added that having paperwork in place for support from contractors prevented additional complications.
The first phase of the project involved programming each wireless access point to the area in which it would be installed. With a 60-foot radius, each access point will send a wireless signal to users on AIT devices including laptops, tablets and handheld scanners. Everyone using the devices has immediate access to the depot's Logistics Modernization Program WLAN.
"The WLAN project will not only further modernize Tobyhanna, but will increase our ability to work efficiently and effectively," said Buckwalter.
Several challenges arose throughout the install, including an issue in Building 30 with routing cables through soundproofing and coordination issues that delayed install teams in Building 73 and the radome.
Buckwalter noted the effort of work leaders to quickly and effectively resolve problems to keep the project on track.
"Throughout this project, the work leaders have been extremely knowledgeable and fully-committed to the timeline," he said.
Jerry Zollo, Army Materiel Command (AMC) WLAN team lead, said the effort of depot personnel to coordinate, carry out and improve on these installations is highly commendable.
"The working relationship between AMC and Tobyhanna has been great and allowed the entire process to run smoothly," said Zollo. "We rely on them [Tobyhanna employees] to survey a work area and tell us where wireless capabilities need to be installed and then make it happen. With each site the installation seems to get better and better."
The first area on the installation to reap the benefits of network improvements is the Industrial Operations Facility, a shop that has been using AIT for several years but with frequent network interruptions.
In the next few months, the facility will receive more than 150 wireless tablets that will use the improved WLAN to access LMP once the server goes live sometime in May 2016. Tobyhanna is the fourth of a total of 13 installations across AMC that will receive WLAN upgrades.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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