NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
David Wood, supervisory supply management specialist, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, was recently named one of DLA’s Ten Outstanding Personnel of the Year and received the Jerri L. Taylor Award for Individual Outstanding Contribution.
Wood oversees operational planning, data analysis and general operations at the Department of Defense’s largest storage and distribution site, leading a team of 230 employees responsible for warehousing and distribution functions. Over the past year, the team has focused on process improvement initiatives, leveraging business analytics and information systems to enhance warfighter readiness.
"How do we become more efficient and how do we produce more units per hour?” said Wood. “It’s about control of the operation through information systems. Understanding every transaction, continuous improvement, and knowing where the work is, how old it is, resources allocated, and expected production are key."
Wood’s team implemented a productivity improvement plan resulting in significant increases in “Time-On-Standard,” “Percent Productivity,” and “Lines Per Paid Equivalent.” They addressed previous challenges, including slow responses to workload imbalances and inadequate quality and production incentive plans.
“We can, in a very detailed way, demonstrate production capacities comparative to projected requirements” he said. “We know where we’re excelling and where we’re struggling. And that gives us the adaptability to rebalance and to focus on warfighter priorities.”
Wood’s leadership was also instrumental in improving inventory accuracy. A 13-year DLA veteran, he brings Army infantry and aviation experience, a graduate degree, and 15 years in corporate America with a background in supply chain management, consulting and logistics.
Under his leadership, the transportation team completed more than 78,000 internal moves, scheduled 11,800 inbound appointments, and shipped 11,500 truckloads of freight. The vendor support management team serviced more than 20,000 vendors, shipped nearly 626,500 orders, and completed more than 6,500 over-ocean container bookings.
“We have a fantastic team of devoted professionals,” said Wood. “They work very hard, and that’s what’s necessary to support the warfighter globally.”