SIGONELLA, Italy –
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy’s Carmelo Rapisarda has been awarded the Global Distribution Excellence: Edward Sweger DLA Distribution Systems Innovation/Automation award for his outstanding Distribution Standard System support.
Rapisarda serves as a supply systems analyst, responsible for administering systems programs, training the workforce on the main warehousing system, Distribution Standards System, updates, and developing queries to support production.
“Mr. Rapisarda is a subject matter expert on Distribution Standard System functional applications with emphasis on several major functions, processes and procedures,” said Fred Hildrich, the distribution center’s acting commander. “He is outstanding at evaluating DSS reports and evaluating the impact on operations.”
Rapisarda routinely produces detailed information to improve processes and timeliness of productivity using his knowledge of the Query Management Facility. The reports provided by Rapisarda through the QRF allow the distribution center to review statistical data and make decisions to increase productivity. As a result, he regularly monitors, updates and provides feedback to leadership on any identified issues.
With every new release of DSS, Rapisarda is the lead trainer, ensuring the workforce understands the system changes and any impact to operations. He translates the changes into Italian and ensures everyone is able to understand the DSS screen shots, which are in English. According to Hildrich, the recent Report Control Number introduction into the distribution center’s Material Processing Center is a testament to Rapisarda’s dedication to ensuring the workforce understands system changes. To support this change, he developed a detailed training package for all transshipment personnel to use and ensured they could complete the new process accurately.
Rapisarda is responsible for validating DLA Distribution Sigonella’s employee accounts within DSS. By ensuring all System Authorization Access Requests are completed accurately, he guarantees proper access within DSS for the distribution center’s workforce to perform their daily duties. His efforts, combined with DLA’s new onboarding program, have resulted in all new employees gaining access to DSS in record time.
Additionally, in 2014, Rapisarda temporarily assumed full responsibility for the warehousing functions performed by an absent analyst in the distribution center’s Technical Support Branch. His support included restructuring the warehouse’s layout to comply with new storage management criteria. He also spearheaded a project to isolate suspended stock into single locations for better identification and relocated low-demand items to outlying warehouses, increasing effectiveness and reducing processing time.
“Mr. Rapisarda’s ability to review the details of each new release of DSS, understand the impacts to the various functional areas, translate the requirements into another language, and finally, successfully train our workforce is simply astonishing,” said Hildrich.