DLA Research & Development's Military Unique Sustainment Technology program is an industrial preparedness manufacturing technology program that promotes manufacturing and logistics improvements in troop support clothing and textiles issues. The MUST program focuses on establishing a knowledge-based approach to collaborate on development and acquisition of combat uniforms and individual equipment. MUST is researching and developing knowledge-based technologies to re-engineer the joint process and product, and to develop the foundation platform that enables technical data modernization.
Innovation & Technology
- Process re-engineering to streamline joint processes
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology for digital models of technical requirements
- Knowledge-based approach for integrated Clothing & Textile supply chain digital thread
- Application program interface with neutral data formats for seamless digital data model integration
- R&D support includes market research, requirements analysis, research & development, feasibility studies, prototype development, test & evaluation, and business case analyses
Strategic Thrusts
Program Challenge
Widely Distributed Manual Technical Data Requirements - Combat item technical requirements are documented in a complicated web of DoD, Government, and industry specifications. The top tier reference lower tier documents. Industry is responsible for compliance.
Benefits
- Streamlining vendor level-of-effort associated with military uniform-related procurement
- Overall quality improvement
- Eliminate errors, omission, and uncertainties in uniform specifications
Partners
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Navy
- Industries and Test Labs
- DLA Troop Support Clothing & Textiles
- DLA Troop Support Product Test Center
- U.S. Marines
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Air Force
Accomplishments & Ongoing Efforts
- Successful working prototype and functional requirements document
- Stakeholders' testing and validation
- Initiating vendor roll out for final transition
- Implementation scheduled and budgeted for FY25
- Converted >50% of relevant C&T documents to ISO Level 3/4 as the foundation of the digital model library