Air Force Journal of Logistics
16
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Captain Damelsa D. White, USAF and Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey C. Bergdolt, USAF
Charting the Course of ECSS
Introduction
I
n order to meet the logistics challenges of today andtomorrow, the Air Force logistics chain (also called thelogistics supply chain, logistics support chain, and at times just the supply chain) must be more efficient and effective ingetting the right part, to the right place, at the right time. To dothis, the Air Force must make the responsiveness of its logisticschain more rapid, while managing logistics at the enterpriselevel with a common operating picture in which processes andcapabilities are predictive, streamlined, standardized, andprovide added value. The ability to
sense
the capabilities andrequirements of the entire Air Force logistics chain in near realtime will allow the Air Force to move faster and lighter, whichwill ultimately provide better support to the warfighter.
1
Why We Need to TransformAir Force Logistics
Logistics operations and processes are becoming increasinglymore critical as support requirements and locations changeaccording to national security needs and objectives. Tocontinue to meet these changing requirements, the logisticschain must be able to quickly adjust and respond, regardlessof where the warfighter is located and support is needed.
2
However, today, the business of Air Force logistics isconducted in loosely integrated functional silos in which thereare segmented and duplicative processes, competition forresources without an enterprise view,reactive and limited real-timemanagement, and no common measureof success.
3
In addition, Air Forcelogistics does not possess a truecapability to rapidly replanrequirements or reallocate resourceswhen operational goals and scenarioschange.
4
Furthermore, there are slowdistribution, multiple plans, variousstandards, wasted resources, excessmaterial, massive deployment seams,multiple customer touch-points, andloss of accountability. Figure 1 depictshow logistics processes are presentlyduplicated at all Air Force levels
.
Clearly, Air Force logistics needs toencompass business intelligence,provide dynamic command andcontrol, be network-centric andpredictive, and execute strategiccollaborative planning and distribution.To do this, logistics must betransformed.
How We Will Transform
Expeditionary Logistics for the 21
st
Century (eLog21) is the Air Force-wide transformation campaign that willdramatically change the way the Air
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