Provisioners, technical writers, and other subject matter experts at the CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center are implementing tangible processes in support of a major Department of Defense plan – the right to repair.
The Secretary of Defense outlined in an April 30 memo that the right to repair will improve the Army’s ability to maintain and upgrade its equipment, enhancing response time and resiliency for the warfighter. At the ILSC, the right to repair manifests through new cataloging procedures and technical manual developments that will significantly contribute to future success. The ILSC began these efforts by identifying obstacles and implementing solutions to overcome them.
Traditionally, the provisioning process takes a long time, creating potential issues like version control problems, high costs, and a rigid structure that hinders rapid fielding. Provisioners often struggle to influence fast-paced acquisition programs that utilize rapid prototyping and fielding strategies to deliver the most advanced technology to the warfighter. To combat this, the ILSC is implementing a rapid response and expanding services to include cataloging non-standard and commercial off-the-shelf items.
ILSC is taking a more active role in cataloging and property accountability processes, engaging earlier in the acquisition process and expanding support to Enterprise Resource Management systems beyond the Logistics Modernization Program, into the Global Combat Support System-Army, the Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program Hub, and the Defense Priorities and Allocations System.
Logistics Data Division Chief Kelly Pearson states, “We will develop comprehensive cataloging procedures and extend our influence to advance the future of provisioning.” Enhanced cataloging improves supply chain management, increasing the Army’s ability to institute and oversee its right to repair initiative.
Technical manual development also suffers from processes and procedures that don’t align with the agile nature of the adaptive acquisition framework. To maintain the effectiveness of technical manuals as a crucial Soldier resource, the ILSC is leveraging the existing expertise of its workforce while tailoring solutions to customer-specific needs.
This modernized approach and philosophical shift in technical manual development utilizes scripting and automation to expedite historically time-consuming tasks. This will help the center meet the more aggressive timelines associated with middle tier acquisition and urgent capability acquisition. “Instead of enforcing broad and cumbersome regulations, we now focus on the true needs of each program,” Publication Services Division Chief Matt Lucy said. “This targeted assessment creates a more achievable solution, benefiting the program office, the ILSC, and the Soldiers who use these manuals.”
The ILSC is already coordinating with program offices to identify areas, such as the TITAN program, to integrate these new approaches and solutions. “Bringing content development in-house and tailoring requirements to meet customer needs are foundational to our new approach” Lucy said. With TITAN, CECOM ILSC is developing a more streamlined operator manual that will introduce flexibility in content requirements while retaining the critical elements that field personnel expect.
The ILSC modernization plan is the winning formula needed to streamline projects, fully utilize its logistics expertise, and ensure warfighter readiness. This directly supports the right to repair concept the Army is embracing – a proactive approach to fighting and winning our nation’s wars.
“As the C5ISR commodity relies more and more on rapidly acquired commercial items, the transformative solutions we are putting in place follow those same concepts but simplify and streamline the administrative process around it," Logistics and Technical Support Directorate Acting Associate Director Matt Zalfa said. "We are moving to streamlined solutions, but still providing the Soldier with answers to two simple questions: How do I repair this? What parts do I order and tools do I use to conduct the repairs? The value we add ensures the information provided to the field is safe and user-verified, even on a condensed timeline.”
With this bottom-line support of the warfighter at the forefront, the provisioners, technical writers, and logistics subject matter experts at the ILSC are transforming their efforts to meet urgent requirements and enhance CECOM's support for the current and future fighting force.
Social Sharing