Garden State Chapter hosts SOLE symposium

Logistics Spectrum, Jul-Sep 2001 by Simmons, Janis, Miller, Robert

Membership has its rewards

The Garden State Chapter of SOLE-- The International Society of Logistics recently hosted its annual symposium. This year's focus was on Supply Chain Management, Which Link are You? The speakers were electrifying, upbeat and very informative. The exhibits were magnificent, the food was delicious, and the attendance was outstanding.

Speakers shared their knowledge and successes with a captive audience. Thomas Edwards, Deputy to the Commander, US ARMY Combined Arms Support Command, discussed The Link of Ultra Reliability with Supply Chain Modernization. Paul J. Capelli, Program Director, Logistics Modernization, discussed briefly How Supply Chain Management Applies to Wholesale Modernization Logistics Program and set the stage for Jeff Plotnick's presentation on the Use of Enterprise Resource Planning in Wholesale Modernization Logistics Program. Other speakers included Edward T. Bair, PEO IEW&S, who shared his knowledge, successes and views on Integrated Supply Chain Both Within Government and Within Industry Partners, Ronald Treusdell, Sr., Mgr. KPMG Consulting, who discussed Supply Chain Integration and Modernization and Bernard Price who discussed Quality Discount Analysis Models. Marilyn Gaska spoke on Applying Commercial Supply Chain Management Across Combat Support while Verle Hammond discussed The New Logistics Paradigm and Mark Butler informed us on ECRCs Role in E-Commerce and Government Acquisitions.

As a SOLE member, one can tap into and become a part of a vast knowledge-based network. The Garden State Chapter Chair, Mr. Ken Brockel, repeatedly tells all new logisticians, "I continue to encourage all of you to challenge the future. It's yours to grow in." Never has this become so evident as by being a member of SOLE, attending the many functions such as the Chapter Symposium and various luncheons offered.

Symposium Highlights: Which Link Are You?

At the Garden State Chapter SOLE Symposium, Mr. Edwards stated that a complete change is necessary because current reliability models and/or systems are not enough to reduce the logistical footprint in today's Army supply chain. The relationship between Ultra Reliability and Supply Chain Modernization is summed up in a single, simple phrase: "design reliability up front in the life cycle of any given weapon system or product". This represents a complete change in the way we approach the concept of Supply Chain Modernization.

Ultra Reliability must become a key performance metric along with maintainability and sustainability if we are to optimize the responsiveness of our present/future supply chain, reduce total ownership cost and improve operational readiness and availability. In the final analysis, Ultra Reliability increases the velocity of modernization and transformation of our present supply system into a series of integrated logistical networks serving DoD, private industry and the Warfighter.

As a final note to Mr. Edward's briefing, it should be noted, the key catch phrase one should always remember: "The Quality goes in before the name goes on."

Authors' Biographies

Janis L Simmons is a Supply Technician at the Communications Electronic Command (CECOM), Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey. Mrs. Simmons is attending a local community college majoring in Business Management. In government since 1989, she has worked in the areas of procurement, being proactive in innovate strategies, materiel management, and is presently in the CCS/Avionics directorate working on Survival Radios and Floodlight programs. Recently, Mrs. Simmons received the DA Achievement Medal for Civilian Service for her innovative

acquisition approach and work effort on the AN/PRC-112 Survival Radio program for the Army. She facilitated the continued development and improvement through utilizing the methodologies of the Modernization Through Spares (MTS) and Continuous Technology Refreshment (CTR) Programs to the successful implementation of a new contract on the AN/PRC-112 Survival Radio. Mrs. Simmons takes a proactive approach on all programs she works, continuously seeking to improve and take advantage of currently established programs to aid in the funding of her programs. Mrs. Simmons works directly with the US. Air Force and Navy to ensure that all services are part of the "ground floor" effort equally receiving all considerations and advantages in conjunction with her programs.

Mrs. Simmons is currently an active member of SOLE - The International Society of Logistics. She has assisted in the preparations of the 2000 and 2001 Garden State Chapter symposiums for which she received letters of appreciation from the Chapter for her efforts. In an effort for all to benefit from the symposium, Mrs. Simmons was responsible for having the overviews and briefings of the guest speakers posted to Armydotmil. In June of 2000 Mrs. Simmons was nominated and elected as the Garden State Chapter g Publication Chair and Editor of The SOLE Source newsletter.

Robert L. Miller is a Logistics Management Specialist at the Communications Electronic Command (CECOM), Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey. Mr. Miller holds a BS degree in Electronics Engineering from Southwestern University, and was licensed by the New York City Board of Education to teach high school electronics. Mr. Miller is certified in both New Jersey and Delaware as an instructor for the Electrical Contractors Continuing NEC Law and Business Education Program, and has