JACKSONVILLE, Florida –
With audit readiness at the forefront of all we do and the challenges all warehouses face on a day-to-day basis, DLA Distribution Jacksonville, Florida takes a moment to reflect on the progress and difference a great group of people can make.
Like other distribution centers, Jacksonville has faced its share of challenges with audit readiness compliance. Specifically targeting the “One NSN per location” goal, they put together a special projects team to evaluate and implement the transfer of over 11,000 multi-NSN locations to newly created locations within the warehouses. Only through good planning and steady progress would Jacksonville be prepared to implement the Location Identification Program adopted by DLA to set the stage for a timeline of completion.
Because of previous consolidation efforts and footprint reduction, empty warehouse locations were rare. Under the direction of the DLA Distribution Jacksonville’s Continuing Government Activity, and through the recommendations of the DLA Distribution Headquarters Storage Optimization Team, the Jacksonville team was able to create approximately 10,000 new bin locations by reconfiguring existing storage aids.
Under the supervision of warehouse manager, Chase Helm, and business manager, Leslie Strickland, a team of eight people was assembled to accomplish the task. With oversight from the inventory chief Alicia Mott, accountable officer John Pisarski and the Inventory Action team they were able to ensure quality oversight and inventory accuracy.
Over the next 12 months, the team successfully moved all of Jacksonville’s wholesale mixed rack locations to properly sized bin locations, while ensuring inventory accuracy, proper labeling and good overall storage practices were maintained. With the task of wholesale under their belts, they were able to turn their focus onto the retail portion of the business.
When timelines were published for LIP implementation, Jacksonville was ahead of schedule. At the start of the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, the special projects team had cut the site’s multiple NSNs per location in half with under 4,500 locations left to go.
The re-warehousing effort goes to show that with the right hard working, diverse team, tasks that may seem impossible are attainable. The Jacksonville team has worked together to excel and prepare for future IPA audits.
“Credit for this project’s success lies with the people who do the work,” DLA Distribution Jacksonville director Brian Burkholder said. “Team leads Debra Beck, Ernest Thomas and Matthew Ivins have proven to be instrumental assets to the team and to the support of the Warfighter.”