USMC Logistics Resource Allocation Optimization Tool
Abstract
To support the U.S. Administration's announced rebalancing, or pivot, to the Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. Marine Corps is pushing its footprint beyond established logistics support locations. Yet, the Corps' ability to rapidly respond to primary missions, such as international military cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and defense of U.S. interests, must be maintained. This Marine diaspora from Okinawa, its current concentration, must consider the logistical vagaries of time, space, and expense. This thesis develops an optimization-based tool by which item specific details are combined with theater logistical constraints to analyze present logistical performance and "what-if" capability for future troop redeployments within the region. The mathematical model is applied to optimally allocate Class IX repair parts for the Marine Corps across the Pacific theater. In particular, the combined relationship of Defense Logistics Agency and the Marines intermediate level supply units is analyzed. The optimization model minimizes a logistical system cost of multiple priority demands from disparate locations. The model is flexible enough to allow any number of stock items, additional user locations, and supply nodes at operational and strategic levels. While the focus is the force rebalancing in the Pacific, the intent is a general tool that can support other theaters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1009324
Entities
People
- Thomas G. Walker
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School