NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania –
Air Force Brig. Gen. Allan E. Day, commander of DLA Aviation visited DLA Distribution Feb. 22 for an overview of DLA Distribution, and a tour of DoD’s largest warehouse, the Eastern Distribution Center at DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.
Starting the visit with an office call with Distribution deputy commander Twila C. Gonzales, Senior Executive Service, they shifted into a round table discussion with key Distribution staff to receive an organizational overview highlighting DLA Distribution’s 25 distribution centers worldwide, with particular focus on the relationship between Distribution and Aviation. Day was impressed with the innovative efforts of the Distribution team and its drive toward audit readiness and commented “DLA counts on DLA Distribution to be audit-ready first. I know that drives your business model in a lot of ways.”
Scott Rosbaugh, Distribution’s Future Plans director discussed the importance of Performance Based Logistics. “Aviation was the catalyst for PBL at DLA Distribution Oklahoma City. They set the stage.”
Another topic of discussion was DLA’s retail point-of-use support to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Currently, Distribution has purchased and modified six 10-foot containers, Vidmar cabinets and “tackle boxes,” and have procured an additional nine sets, which will arrive at DLA Distribution Hill, Utah as early as March 2017.
“ICBM is a great example of tailored distribution,” said Rosbaugh. “We provide what you want, the way you want it. The partnership with DLA Aviation is extremely positive.”
Additionally, the group discussed OCONUS suppliers and customers purchasing in bulk. It was emphasized that there should be an IT solution developed to indicate to customers what the sliding scale is, based on the size of the order. Essentially saying if the customer orders a large quantity, Distribution may need to repackage order, effectively increasing costs.
"This is an enterprise continuous process improvement since it touches all of the supply chains. We may need to take a few NSN's from Aviation for a pilot to test out a solution," Gonzales said.
The discussion touched on Fleet Readiness Centers. Presently, Distribution has three co-located FRC’s: Jacksonville, Florida; Cherry Point, North Carolina; and San Diego, California. DLA Distribution continues to have a successful partnership with DLA Aviation.
"The big thing we need to articulate to the customer is what the price tag is for readiness," said Day. "Our performance as a team is what affects the customer."
Day concluded the roundtable by thanking DLA Distribution for hosting him. "You're a teammate, a key player and our goal is to present DLA in a certain way together. Thank you for what you do. I'm excited about what you guys provide."
Following the roundtable discussion, Day was escorted to the more than 1.7 million sq. ft. (or 30 football fields-large) EDC by Army Col. Brad Eungard, commander of DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania for a tour.