Decision Support in Logistics

Robert B. Stevens of TASC Inc. has written a paper entitled: “Product Support Decision Support System”. In the paper Mr. Stevens calls for the development of a decision support system to assist the military in planning its logistical support for various missions. Mr. Stevens also is of the opinion that the logistics field has been neglected by the U.S. Military when it comes to logistical influencing factors in combat simulations (wargames). The paper can be found at: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=wargaming+and+decision+support+systems&btnG=Google+Search

The Army traditionally uses Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools for planning their logistical operations in support of their command. Historically, these tools are used to support global logistic decisions, manage supplies, and test Research and Development (R&D) in the acquisition phase. The problem that is occurring is that as weapon systems become more sophisticated they also become more prone to systems failure. Mr. Stevens specifically points to the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) as a primary reason that the current systems support and decision making software needs to be overhauled.

The original MLRS (the M270) is about 20 years old. It entered service just before I got left. Since then their have been one system wide upgrade (the M270A1) and a new wheeled version of the launcher called the High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS). This is a lighter version of the original system (the original system being a tracked vehicle). This makes the new launcher lighter and easier to carry via aircraft. Four payloads for the weapon system would take up the carrying capacity of a flatbed eighteen-wheeler. In addition to the logistical nightmare of having to keep the system supplied with ammo, there is the need to provide maintenance, gas, food for the crew, etc., and this is only one of the many combat and support systems in today’s Army.

Of the two problems expressed in Mr. Stevens, the easiest fix for the wargame simulation would be to include the rudimentary logistical issues into the scenario. The possible variables that could be included could be a Mean Time Between Failures, Mean Time to Repair, and Mean Time Between Replacements. In this way the battlefield commander will have to deal with maintenance shortcomings. The more that they push their troops, the greater the mechanical problems that they will face. Decisions made by the commander without these critical data elements in the wargame do not realistically portray the availability of the weapon systems or equipment.

Mr. Stevens stated that: “logistical systems do not analyze the function of supporting individual weapon systems. What present logistic simulations normally capture are the amounts of supplies and services needed to support organizations in a generic sense. Simulations presently do not capture logistic as a collection of activities associated with acquiring, moving, storing, and delivering supply chain commodities to the war fighter. More importantly, critical individual weapon systems are not managed closely in the logistics’ supply chain, including the necessities of manufacturing spares, retailing parts, transportation, distribution, warehousing, material handling, and inventory management.”

The logistical Decision Support System (DSS) that Mr. Stevens is proposing sounds remarkably like a Just In Time (JIT) system. Most of the variables with regards to mean time failures, repairs and replacement activities exist today. What doesn’t exist is the access to a worldwide database that includes all of the Army supply centers as well as all of their suppliers. If a system like this could be developed, it would save the government significant amounts of money. Keeping track of all existing supplies, their locations, transportation resources, and supplier capabilities would allow planners to develop long range support plans to support the armed forces operations.

This system doesn’t exist. The need for it is critical to saving money, time, and lives in a combat situation. Our weapon systems continue to be state of the art; it is a shame that we don’t have a state of the art support system to ensure that they can operate as designed. We need to be able to get the beans, bullets, and band aids where they are needed, before the troops need them. A JIT inventory control system and DSS could provide that capability.