Assessment of the use of portals to reduce excess material in Afloat Logistics Systems

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to assess the benefit of utilizing portals to manage and reduce excess materials in the Afloat Logistics System (ALS). Through this process, this report shall identify: 1) What IT system(s) are currently in use for managing excess material in ALS; 2) What policies are present for managing excess material in the current ALS; 3) What benefit might portals add to the management of excess material in ALS; and 4) What impact might this portal have on preventing future excess material in ALS. The Navy's Afloat Logistics System (ALS), composed of 30 Oliver Hazard Perry class Frigates and 57 Arleigh Burke class Destroyers, is overburdened with excess material. Currently, the combined 87 ships contain over 228,000 line items of excess material within their logistics systems. This report looks at the supply chain and the effects of excess material, the current systems used to manage excess material, the issues dampening the success of current excess-material management systems, and the possible uses of portals to streamline the excess-material management systems.