DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich.--The Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team hosted its first logistics roundtable at Defense Acquisition University Midwest.
Attendees consisted of logistics professionals from both industry and the Army. While, the topics for discussion ranged from streamlining the process of doing business with the Army, to how to speed up the process for determining logistical requirements, in concert with accelerated acquisition timelines.
"This is the first of a number of events where we are trying to change the nature of the dialogue between [the Army] and industry," said Kevin McEnery, the Deputy Director of NGCV CFT. There are plenty of forums where our engagements are transactional, but we want to have a forum where we can talk openly about the challenges we have on the government side and you can talk to us about the challenges you have on the industry side."
Some of the discussion focused on how the government and industry can update their processes to better take advantage of new technologies and how bringing logisticians into the acquisition process earlier can help speed up the fielding of new combat vehicles. Participants also gave ideas on how the government can streamline its business practices to speed up the contracting process.
"We wanted to come and hear from government and hear from industry and make suggestions to make the process better," said Jim McManus from Hutchinson Industries.
This will be the first in a series of roundtables and engagements the CFT and its partners from Team Warren will conduct with industry and academia to help better inform the way the Army does business, so that it can take advantage of advances in technology and work with non-traditional partners.
"The army has set a very aggressive schedule for modernization," said McEnery. "What we want to do is understand where those areas are that we can influence. We may not be able to influence it today--there is no magic wand--but, we can have the dialogue and [industry] can help us be better informed as we articulate our requirements."
For more information on future roundtables, please follow NGCV CFT on twitter @NGCVCFT.
The Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team drives combat vehicle modernization to rapidly provide Soldiers with the most advanced combat platforms. NGCV CFT actively synchronizes, coordinates, and resources programs to rapidly provide Soldiers with next generation combat platforms. The CFT is located on the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Mich.
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