Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation has unveiled a supply chain analysis tool that works to help clients and sustainment experts direct root cause actions that may address supply chain disruptions.

The Materiel Supportability Analysis tool is built to visualize various drivers and factors that may cause shortages within a 24-month timeframe, DLA said Tuesday. The drivers are then validated and displayed in the tool as report filters.

“We accomplish this by combining critical Navy data elements with DLA supply chain data and providing the end-users with actionable alerts to address demand or supply chain problems that are contributing to gaps in supportability," said Adam Hardee, chief at DLA Aviation's business process support directorate’s industrial analysis support branch.

DLA Aviation eyes the deployment of the MSA's automated iteration in September. The agency has been using the Center of Parts Activity suite since 1999. The system allows users to trace supply chain components that support three fleet readiness centers and three air logistics facilities.

The State Department has created a data analytics team that works to provide actionable results from COVID-19 datasets and support the department’s repatriation efforts for Americans impacted by the pandemic overseas, Nextgov reported Tuesday.

The department’s Center for Analytics (CfA) and Office of Crisis Management and Strategy (M/SS) launched the COVID-19 Data Analytics Team (CDAT) to serve as a central COVID-19 data repository in support of the department’s Repatriation Task Force and Coronavirus Global Response Coordination Unit (CGRCU).

Janice deGarmo, acting chief data officer at the State Department and deputy director of M/SS, told the publication that CDAT helped produce the Repatriation Briefing Book that enabled State Department personnel to coordinate with other agencies and identify Americans in need of repatriation.

The Repatriation Briefing Book is comprised of multiple dashboards based on open-source data such as flight schedules and requests. The tool complements CDAT’s Congressional Repatriation Inquiries tool that visualizes updates on congressional repatriation activities.

The State Department has coordinated repatriation efforts for 95,083 Americans encompassing 136 territories and countries to date, according to Nexgov.

Unisys Corporation and IDEMIA have launched the Australian Department of Home Affairs' new Enterprise Biometric Identification Services (EBIS) system, Unisys reported on Wednesday. 

“EBIS provides Home Affairs with greater confidence in verifying an individual's identity for efficient and early detection of criminals and persons of national security concern who change names and obtain passports using false identities,” said Rick Mayhew, vice president and general manager, Unisys Asia Pacific. 

Unisys designed and implemented the system within 18 months of signing the contract with the department. EBIS is based on the  company’s Stealth Stealth multi-factor identity management and authentication solution, to support face, finger, iris and voice recognition.

Using IDEMIA's facial and fingerprint recognition algorithms, the company’s offering will create the most accurate biometric identity management systems used for visa and border processing within Australia. 

The core of EBIS' fingerprint and facial biometric matching solution uses industry-leading biometric matching algorithms from IDEMIA to quickly and accurately match fingerprints and facial images.

IDEMIA's flagship product Multi Biometric Search Services (MBSS) is a multi-biometric engine that uses face and fingerprint matching algorithms. The  product will combine high scalability with high availability. It will be integrated within IDEMIA's world-leading biometric algorithms.

“We have worked closely with the department and our partner IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, to deliver one of the world's leading solutions to help protect Australia's borders and national assets," added Mayhew.

EBIS will be to match the facial images and fingerprints of people traveling to Australia, including visa applicants and the facial images for citizenship applicants. The system will simultaneously facilitate the processing of legitimate travelers and has been designed to support the growth in visa applications, border clearances and applications for citizenship.

To facilitate travelers' journeys, border clearance staff need to efficiently verify the identities of travelers and confirm they are who they say they are to prevent delays, avoid queues and improve the overall experience for travelers. In the future, EBIS will provide the capability to quickly flag people who may be crossing the border with fraudulent identities.

"We are thrilled to provide the biometric engine that powers the EBIS solution… The combined strengths of IDEMIA behind Unisys provide the Department of Home Affairs with a flagship platform to secure the border now and into the future," said Tim Ferris, president of IDEMIA Asia Pacific and senior vice president for Public Security and Identity. 

About Unisys

Unisys is a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include security software and services; digital transformation and workplace services; industry applications and services; and innovative software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing.