SEC's new take on the cloud
The CECOM Software Engineering Center developed a new approach to Cloud computing for the Army. By creating a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Cloud, SEC builds, deploys and manages Web applications all within the Cloud environment. "This facilitates the DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process as well as the Authority to Operate certification thereby reducing the cost while also reducing the continuity of operations and disaster recovery costs for users," said SEC Enterprise Solutions Competency Center Director, David Garrett.
But possibly the greatest efficiency is the PaaS Cloud's flexibility. "Through the use of multiple programming models and specialized services, the Cloud offers developers building blocks to new applications, significantly reducing their actual development time," said Garrett. "Further, the PaaS Cloud offers a mobile device store front where mobile applications developed within the platform are independent and can ride on an Apple, Android, or BlackBerry operating system."
In a nutshell, the SEC PaaS Cloud offers a scalable environment for developing and hosting Web applications effectively and efficiently.
Process improvements
Tobyhanna Army Depot embarked on an Enterprise Approach to continuous Process Improvement so that benefits cut across all weapons systems from the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder to the AN/TRC 190 High Capacity Line of Sight (HCLOS) Radio Terminal. Since the depot is a massive job shop that repairs everything from radars to missile guidance equipment and surveillance systems, the focus is on improving common processes shared among product families, before working on issues specific to a product. Depot officials kicked off the Enterprise Approach with shelterized weapons systems, the largest of the depot's workloads. Improvements include listing mandatory information on work instructions and applying best practices for palletizing items being sent to support shops.
ISEC downsizes tactical message system
Advances in technology enabled ISEC to condense the original Tactical Message System configuration from 7,200 pounds of equipment in nine transit cases to less than 150 pounds in one transit case. TMS provides secure organizational messaging extending Defense Message System services used in garrison to deployed Army units. When shipping the TMS, the reduction in size and weight will contribute directly to efficiency by saving the Army space and pounds which translates to money on the bottom line.
CTSF employs Tenrox
Tenrox is a software suite that compiles the actual hours worked by individuals on a given project.
The use of Tenrox benefits the CTSF in that it enables leadership to put its personnel and equipment to the most efficient possible use, eliminating wasted hours and wasted dollars. Customers benefit in that they are being billed on the basis of an accurate determination of the work being done with their software systems.
The CTSF's paid versus the actual costs of operations during Fiscal Year 2011 were brought within a 3 percent differential, according the facility's director Col. John C. Matthews.
Matthews attributed the figure to the CTSF's ability to accurately determine operating costs and amounts to be billed its customers for services rendered to the expanded use of the Tenrox cost-accounting system.
CEER-T reduces costs with thorough testing of stock
The Communication Electronics Evaluation Repair Team (CEER-T) Technicians test, inspect, and repair SINCGARS Radio Transmitters (RTs) in accordance with the Army 10/20 standard of maintenance. During the GRM-122 testing phase, if a fault is detected within any of the RT's Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs), the assembly is removed and reclassified as a Condition Code "F" asset. Data collected from all CEER-T Sites operating within the last 12 Months indicates that an average 45% of the CCAs reclassified and discarded as "F" Stock were, in fact, determined to be without fault after additional testing. As a result, additional demands are created for CCAs to replace those assemblies considered to be unserviceable. Since procurement cost ranges from $475 to $1339 per circuit card, a 25% reduction in the current 45% recovery rate will yield an estimated savings of $8M over the course of five fiscal years. To date, the CEER-T has created a cost avoidance of $1,012,000.00 through the screening of Circuit Cards discarded from CONUS and OCONUS CEER-T Sites, reducing the reclassification rate by 20%.
LRC's Logistics and Engineering Operations (LEO) Directorate streamlines supply
In an effort to achieve and maintain a high level of data quality within the Logistics Modernization Program (LMP), the Supply Chain Planning (SCP) team developed a data cleansing strategy that includes running data scans, computing data metrics, and developing end user education, training, and user guides. By capturing invalid or suspect data that is negatively impacting SCP functionality, supply recommendations generated by LMP going forward should better reflect what we truly need to repair and/or procure so we have the right part available to support the Warfighter.
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