TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. –A new team at Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) is collaborating to provide timely data and analytics for better decision-making. The Business Intelligence Team (BIT), comprised of eight data experts from multiple directorates, strives to empower depot employees at all levels. Although their goal of aiding members of Team Tobyhanna at all levels to make the best possible decisions by providing accurate and timely data and analytics may seem simple at its surface, the team has been working hard to ensure that the jobs of depot employees become easier and more efficient to complete.
One goal of the BIT is to simplify data collection. They quickly analyze information that typically would take hours, if not days, to sift through and create visual tools that identify issues at a glance. The BIT is also striving to automate processes that usually take a long time to do. The belief is they can make these processes go quicker, allowing more time to make improvements.
Matthew Raup serves as Chief of the BIT. He emphasized that the team is here to serve the workforce and make their work easier.
“I feel one of the major challenges of the team will be to create an effective data driven culture at the organization. It is important that the metrics be seen as a tool to help us ask the right questions instead of a chart that we are trying to keep green at all costs,” said Raup. “We are developing a SharePoint site that everyone can access which will provide extra information about metrics and to create a community where staff can collaborate and contribute to building a culture that incorporates metrics in a proactive and healthy way.”
The BIT is planning to produce products such as electronic production control boards (ePCBs) and Performance Dashboards. Enhanced ePCBs will allow production floor teams to easily see the most current schedule, progress on a particular project and any obstacles to project completion. Future ePCBs will be continuously available with no logging in required – allowing constant access to the information needed to complete TYAD’s mission. Performance Dashboards will serve as a single source of truth for production-related data and allow leaders to take proactive measures to address project hurdles.
Joseph Bilotta is responsible for the BIT’s Innovation and Outreach. He said that one method of improving depot processes is removing barriers so information and data is easily accessible to anyone who needs it.
“There was a lack of transparency when it came to certain types of data; there was no established method to share that information. Our goal is to break down those walls so everyone can see how the business is performing - whenever they want,” said Bilotta. The meaning of transparency is that everyone is on the same level. We’re trying to make Tobyhanna succeed, not fail.”
The team is made up of different people with multiple different backgrounds working towards getting the right data to the right people at the right time to make business decisions. Lorne Fisher, who is responsible for development within the BIT, said he believes the group works very well together and has a genuine passion for TYAD.
“The members of the team have been identified not only because they have understanding of how the systems work, how information is collected and how it can be consumed and collected in a much more efficient way, but these folks are great and together we can try to see what’s coming and we want to be able to bring Tobyhanna to the next level,” said Fisher.
Bilotta also lauded the team, citing that the different backgrounds everyone brings to the table makes them a versatile team.
“We all bring something to the table that is uniquely different,” said Bilotta. “Having such a diverse team allows us to be efficient in many different ways.”
The team was formed in June and is targeting the month of September to be fully operational. Once that time comes, the BIT aims to get employees actual information they can use versus some reports with numbers all over it. The goal is to get employees to see what’s actually important so they can ask targeted questions without digging into the information.
Olivia Corum is responsible for Design and Communication on the BIT. She said the team has been hard at work and is excited to begin helping all of Team Tobyhanna.
“The focus of the BIT is to optimize the depot's operations with the development and implementation of new tools, applications, and reports,” said Corum. “We have received a robust list of ideas to help optimize the organization from all directorates and are excited to get started.”
The Business Intelligence Team directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2028, which has four focus areas: Investing in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications. TOBY2028 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense's premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR 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 3,500 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, 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 empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.
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