The success of any visit depends on the team's ability to work with others to accomplish a common goal. This was the expectation of Anniston Army Depot's leadership when the installation hosted the second Depot Assessment Visit from April 30 through May 2.
"This is a great opportunity for the entire team to come together, "said Maj. Gen Kurt Stein, Commanding General, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command's commanding general.
More than 70 Army Materiel Command and TACOM LCMC senior leaders, staff members and depot and arsenal commanders toured the installation while assessing various work processes and proficiencies.
"We have the right team here on the property," said Depot Commander Col. Timothy Sullivan as he welcomed the visitors to the installation. "We appreciate the anticipated exchange of dialogue that will help us continue to adapt, grow and remain responsive to the needs of our customers."
ANAD is the Department of Defense's designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for combat vehicles (tracked and wheeled), artillery (self propelled and towed), bridging systems and small caliber weapons (individual and crew served).
On day one, participants divided into groups that governed the largest aspects of business: safety, environmental and human resources; real property and infrastructure; financial management; supply and contracting; and depot production and maintenance.
"This is not an inspection," said AMC's Deputy Commanding General, Lt. Gen Dennis Via. "We're here to leverage best practices, lessons learned, as well as take back techniques that may be incorporated throughout the command."
The Safety, Environmental and Human Resources team toured with an eye on the safety and wellness initiatives that the depot has implemented.
Under the direction of Scott Miller, the depot's safety officer, the participants got a glimpse of some of the safe tools and equipment used throughout the installation. At the Powertrain Flexible Maintenance Facility, team members observed the automated chemical cleaning system.
"This created a great cross-fertilization of ideas, while learning more about the enterprise," said Col. Brian Rogers, commander of Blue Grass Army Depot and AMC's team leader for the safety team.
Miller also expounded on the workers compensation program, which is another best practice at ANAD. "We make every effort to bring employees back to work," said Miller.
Rod Brodeur, ANAD's Deputy Director of Material Management, escorted the Supply and Contracting team, elucidating how public private partnerships enhance and supplement the combat vehicle overhaul process.
In the Turbine Engine Facility, Brodeur explained the relationship with Honeywell, Inc., which is responsible for overseeing the enhanced Total InteGrated Engine Revitalization program, which supports the M1 Abrams engine. Honeywell employees are responsible for ensuring that the engine component kits are 100 percent. This eliminates depot mechanics from having to leave their work stations to retrieve parts. The parts are now delivered to them, thus increasing throughput, using fewer hours and generating more revenue.
"We hope the participants walk away with a better understanding of what we do, how we manage our contracts, how we conduct our business and our potential to support future workload," said Brodeur.
In the 1.5 million-square-foot Nichols Industrial Complex, the Production and Maintenance team received information that further confirms the depot's capacity to completely overhaul combat vehicles, including the Stryker family of vehicles.
Col. Cheri Provancha, commander of Letterkenny Army Depot, said she experienced firsthand how lives can be saved by the Stryker vehicles, when deployed to Mosul, Iraq, with a Stryker brigade.
"You learn to love the Stryker when you see your Soldiers return safely," said Provancha.
Also participating with the Production and Maintenance team was a former ANAD commander, Gerald Bates, who now serves as the AMC G4 division chief.
"One of the best practices the team would take away from Anniston was the production scorecard used to track parts and vehicles as they move through the depot's various processes," Bates said."
"We must continue to tell our story, while sustaining the mission to support the great men and women in uniform," said AMC's Deputy Commanding General, Lt. Gen Dennis Via during the exit briefing.
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