Defense Logistics: Actions Needed to Enhance Success of Reengineering Initiatives
Abstract
The Department of Defense has taken significant steps toward reengineering its logistics processes. However, many aspects of the plan are incomplete, raising questions about whether overall goals of improved service and lower costs will be achieved. Key steps taken include establishing a special office responsible for coordinating implementation of the reengineering effort and overseeing efforts to link hundreds of ongoing initiatives to the overall reengineering plans. It has also established pilot programs to test reengineering concepts. However, it has not developed an overarching plan that integrates individual service efforts into a single Department-wide implementation strategy. Further, plans to test, evaluate, and fully implement reengineered support strategies Defense-wide by the end of 2005 face a number of challenges, making it unlikely that the pilot programs will be able to provide key information in time to support interim decision-making deadlines. Additionally, because many of the programs have multiple objectives, it will be difficult to link results and savings to specific reengineering concepts. Finally, the Department has not estimated the total costs of completing logistics reengineering or developed a supporting budget plan. Without such an investment strategy, there may not be sufficient funds to adequately test the concepts being piloted and to implement the results on a Department-wide basis. It is too early to assess the impact of reengineering logistics support on combat forces. Officials representing combat forces have brought up a number of concerns, including the effects of having large numbers of private contractors to provide logistics support, the ability of contractors to meet the surge in demand resulting from intensifying military operations, and the effects of outsourcing on the number of positions available to military personnel returning to the U.S. from overseas assignments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA379982
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office