TRACY, Calif. –
TRACY, Calif. – The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, San Joaquin, California revitalized the F-35 Lightning II distribution process after migrating to a new transportation module within the new distribution management system to manage F-35 material and gaining transportation responsibility of global movement of F-35 material April 17, at DLA Distribution San Joaquin in Tracy, California.
In the morning, DDJC leadership hosted an F-35 transportation module Warehouse Management System kick-off to acknowledge the employees’ hard work and dedication to the programming and systems testing over the past year.
During the kick-off, DDJC Commander Marine Corps Col. Kevin Chunn mentioned the importance of this milestone and stated that DDJC is the supply chain lead for the non-hazardous and non-propulsion F-35 material around the globe. Chunn also mentioned the challenges that the DDJC team will face with the migration of the new system.
“There will be a learning curve for our customers as they are used to the prime vendors providing support. You are now the subject matter experts to our customers, so expect to be leaned on to mentor and teach the new system,” Chunn said. “Be proud of our role as DLA employees.”
With the testing, evaluating, training and problem solving required to migrate to a new management system, Chunn stated his appreciation to the information technology, communications and operations staff working diligently on the shift from Vendor Shipment Module to the new Warehouse Management System.
“This transition to WMS will speed up the delivery of our high priority shipments and is critical to mission readiness,” Chunn said.
Joshua Rodriguez, the lead transportation assistant at DDJC, stated that the team is prepared to face any challenges the migration may bring.
“There will always be technical difficulties and unanticipated issues when adopting a new system, but we’ve come up with questions and solutions over the past year of testing the system,” Rodriguez said. “And our real advantage is the team we have here at DDJC; the employees here are well experienced and the best in the logistics business.”
In addition to the management system migration that the entire DLA enterprise will adopt in the coming years, DDJC also assumed transportation responsibility of F-35 material from DLA Distribution Hill, Utah, which previously handled most of the transportation workload.
“The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most lethal, survivable, connected and advanced fighter jet in the world,” Chunn said. “The way we support the warfighter has just changed. We have the entirety of the F-35 transportation workload.”
DDJC is the Defense Department’s Western Strategic Distribution Platform and DLA’s primary distribution point to the western U.S., Pacific, and Indian Ocean regions. DDJC is the backbone of distributing F-35 material around the globe and will continue to support the warfighter.