Implementing the National Inventory Management Strategy: a case study on DLA's National Inventory Management Strategy (NIMS)

Abstract

Since 1990, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits have assessed supply chain management as a high-risk area within the Department of Defense (DoD). In response to these findings, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) developed the National Inventory Management Strategy (NIMS) initiative. This initiative combines the consumable repair inventories of DLA (wholesale level) and each armed service (retail level) into a single national inventory. The United States Navy and DLA established test sites at Naval Air Station Ingleside, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to demonstrate its benefits and measure its performance. The aim of this report is to analyze NIMS preliminary performance metrics in terms of effectiveness and its impact on supply chain management within the Navy and DLA.