Government agencies work to improve supply chain management: joint Defense Logistics agency, U.S. Transportation Command, General Services Administration press release

Defense AT&L, July-August, 2008

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, III. -- U.S. Transportation Command, the Defense Logistics Agency, and U.S. General Services Administration have established a formal partnership designed to improve supply chain management for U.S. armed forces.

Leaders from the three agencies recently signed an agreement establishing a customer support partnership among the three organizations that will result in improved support to the warfighter.

As global supply chain integration evolves, USTRANSCOM, DLA, and GSA commit to provide best value supplies and services in a timely manner.

The agreement establishes an Executive Steering Committee to oversee initiatives that assure each organization's performance aligns with mutually shared expectations. The ESC will be made up of executives from all three organizations that will establish and direct joint working groups, to ensure the goals and objectives for the overall initiatives are followed.

"This agreement provides us with an excellent opportunity to better align supply chain management," said Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USTRANSCOM commander, "and solidify interagency partnerships in support of the warfighter."

The partnership establishes methods for each agency to combine performance measurements, collaborate across organizational boundaries and, most importantly, achieve the operational effect of adopting shared efficiencies in delivering goods and services to the warfighter.

"The cooperative agreement extends our commitment to achieve supply chain excellence with our national partners," said Army Lt. Gen. Robert T. Dail, director, DLA. "This guides us--as partners--to further improve operations, information sharing, and integrated supply chain planning."

The agreement, which outlines specific responsibilities for each agency, identifies the following goals of the partnership:

* Improve operations, information sharing, and integrated supply chain operations planning

* Adopt shared processes to gain efficiencies in the delivery of goods and services to the warfighter

* Determine information technology requirements to enhance warfighter support capabilities and implement solutions approved by the ESC

* Develop shared customer relationship activities and initiatives

* Share supply chain and distribution business intelligence and current events information regarding ongoing or potential initiatives and innovations

* Collaborate across boundaries of the organizations

* Seek partnering opportunities whenever the opportunity arises.

"This arrangement demonstrates how DoD's strong partnership with GSA is ensuring taxpayer savings through best value strategies," said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Jim Williams. "It is another great example of how the FAS is partnering with DoD to optimize supply solutions for the warfighter."