NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania –
The DLA Distribution/Disposition, or D2, Integration Team has been awarded the Global Distribution Excellence: Team Performance of the Year Award in the “large” category.
The team, comprised of 99 members from various DLA Distribution headquarters directorates and 15 distribution centers, worked together to combine and optimize the storage and distribution, or S&D, functions of DLA Distribution and DLA Disposition at collocated sites around the world.
On January 28, 2014, DLA published an operations order giving the team 10 months to plan and execute the transition of DLA Disposition S&D operations to DLA Distribution at the selected sites. Through the team’s efforts, 183 personnel transferred alongside S&D functions at 16 sites on time and in accordance with OPORD requirements.
To execute the transfer, team leaders at DLA Distribution headquarters in New Cumberland, Pa., immediately began planning, bringing together a group of subject matter experts from across the DLA enterprise, forming a cohesive team to accomplish the task.
Within weeks of receiving the order, the team travelled to DLA Disposition headquarters in Battle Creek, Mich., to develop a plan, establish a timeline, and construct a battle rhythm that included a three-phased transfer of S&D functions at the collocated sites.
Additionally, five overarching rules of engagement were established: do no harm to employees or customers; transfer functions ‘as-is, where-is;’ DLA Disposition would be the supported organization and DLA Distribution supporting; the process would be open and transparent; and a joint communication strategy would be implemented to ensure a consistent and coordinated message would be sent to all internal and external stakeholders.
The team needed to ensure the process worked effectively and efficiently prior to network-wide implementation. Therefore, a repeatable transfer model was established and three sites selected for pilot implementation.
Approximately 90 days prior to the official transfer date, all key stakeholders from the various headquarters, staffs, and leadership at the affected sites coordinated expectations and requirements. Approximately 45 days prior site transfer, weekly Plan of Actions and Milestones teleconferences were established to coordinate actions across all stakeholders and agencies.
To ensure a common operating picture and to validate requirements at each location, joint site assessments and town halls were conducted with key leaders, subject matter experts, local leadership, and affected employees. During this same period, senior leaders received weekly updates and the command issued joint communications to customers, unions, and other key internal and external stakeholders.
On May 4, 2014, the functions and personnel at Warner Robins, Ga., San Joaquin, Calif., and Hill, Utah, were successfully transferred. On Aug. 10, functions and personnel at Barstow, Calif., Susquehanna, Pa., Anniston, Ala., Jacksonville, Fla., Richmond, Va., Norfolk, Va., and Red River, Texas, were successfully transferred. Cycle 3 sites, located at Sigonella, Italy, Germersheim, Germany, Cherry Point, N.C., Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, and Guam transferred in October 2014.
Post-transfer employee and customer satisfaction surveys were then implemented to ensure the transition was working as planned, and the initiative was meeting the goals of the Director’s Big Ideas.
“The D2 team operated as a cross-functional group of leaders and subject matter experts from all echelons of DLA Distribution, including staff directorates and supporting agencies. The team was able to work closely with customers to rapidly streamline DLA core processes and came together to ensure DLA optimized taxpayer dollars while continuing to delight our customers,” said DLA Distribution chief integration officer Perry Knight.