The Defense Logistics Agency has revealed its plans to address military supply challenges during a Demand Forecast and Industry Association Leadership Meeting held at the McNamara Headquarters Complex on Nov. 18.
The agency said Tuesday more collaboration between DLA and industry — with a focus on transparency and data sharing — is key to tackling military supply challenges. They also stressed the need for industry innovations and capabilities.
DLA’s Strategy to Meet Emerging Threats
DLA emphasized the significance of a new strategy to ensure warfighters are equipped with agile, adaptive and resilient logistics support. The agency noted that the military’s contested logistics efforts used in the past are no longer sufficient given the emergence of new and advanced threats that exist across air, sea, space, cyber and ground domains.
The agency has been using machine learning, robotics and other advanced tools to forecast demands. It now intends to develop technologies based on artificial intelligence that can enhance the process and accuracy of such forecasts. The aim is to produce innovations that can provide accurate, data-backed demand forecasts while reducing lead times.
Industry partners and DLA are also looking at the potential of additive manufacturing in enhancing logistics support. Through 3D-printing, troops can access the parts they need quickly and more efficiently, potentially contributing to warfighters’ readiness.
Mark Simerly, director of DLA, in addressing leaders of 14 industry associations representing about 5,000 businesses, said, “We will always work closely with the services and the combatant commands to craft solutions, but we’ll never be able to do it with sufficient precision without your actions, your capabilities and your innovation.”
