Targeted Use of Theater Inventory to Effectively Sustain Overseas Forces While Minimizing Supply Chain Costs

Abstract

During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the high costs of air shipments have garnered attention. There have been calls to send fewer items by airlift and instead to transport the items to units by low-cost but slow sealift. In some cases, these calls have led to such a shift, resulting in lower cost but worse support, as expected. However, this choice between cost and performance need not be made. With an effective overall distribution network design that is continually monitored and updated, rapid response can be delivered at low total cost, with different items shipped via the ideal mode for each type of item, i.e., the method that meets customer response needs at the lowest total distribution cost possible. A key component of an effective distribution network to support overseas units is the targeted use of centralized theater inventory for example in Kuwait to support units in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) with replenishment of stocks via sealift. Selected use of theater inventory in conjunction with a targeted mix of airlift and sealift enables optimal support.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA552829

Entities

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Corporations
  • Costs
  • Education
  • Engines
  • Health Care
  • Homeland Security
  • Intellectual Property
  • Inventory
  • Iraqi-War
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Overseas
  • Security
  • Supply Chain
  • Transportation
  • United States Central Command
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Systems Analysis and Design