Essay Example on Maximizing Military Logistics Efficiency in Changing Contexts

Introduction

In the last two decades, the military logistics contexts have changed dramatically due to the cold war policies, several types of adversary and a changing military workforce (Rutner et al., 2012). Due to the augmenting number of interventions over the last decade, one of the significant issues faced by the military forces is to ascertain proper mechanisms that will ensure available resources are used efficiently and effectively (Rutner et al., 2012). This difficulty is partly caused by the decreased allocation of military funds, which helps in streamlining the logistical functions of the armed forces. For example, military logistics in crisis and humanitarian backgrounds is regarded as a prime factor for ensuring operational efficiency in ensuring proper management of forward and reverse logistical functions in the armed forces (Rutner et al., 2012). Growing attention has been given to reverse logistics (RL) and closed-loop supply chain markets and business models over the last decade (Rutner et al., 2012). This is due in part to the acknowledgment of the increasing value of products and technology developed in the military field at the climax of general direct supply chains, and the effect of green laws, specifically in Europe. The paper will compare the practices of logistics and reverse logistics in both the US military and civilian commercial world, and further advantages and disadvantages of both cases.

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Logistics and Reverse Logistics of US Military Service

The presence of military logistics has been present ever since the wars began in the world. Throughout history, when an occupying army is on transit they would require supplies to fulfill the needs of their soldiers (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). In the United States, the idea of reverse logistics began during the Civil War. At the climax of World War 11, the United States had about 6.3 billion dollars value of military assets scattered through Europe and Japan (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The reverse logistics challenges of World War 11 proved to Commanders and logistics experts that backward logistical operations are just as significant as forwarding logistics operations. The army successfully conducted the first research on reverse logistics in the later 1990s After the study, the military began to focus on reverse logistics in the form of rescinding value from used assets (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). Value retrieval in the form of return and repair of fixable spare parts consumes a lot of time, and also inventory investment for the military (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013).

The Modern Applications of Reverse Logistics in the US Military

The US army has three basic uses of reverse logistics namely; retrograde operation, utilizing the Defense Logistics Agency as an avenue of promoting recycling and balancing the expenses consumed while acquiring military assets (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The final application is the establishment of a focal shipping channel were all recovered assets can be returned and then dispensed.

Retrograde

Reverse logistics processes are essential for the proper eradication and disposal of residue and obsolete items (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). A retrograde operation is defined as a planned movement of the troops to the rear away from the one. An instance of a retrograde movement involves the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Afghanistan (Donnahoe, 2012). By doing this action, it allows them to use environmentally friendly ways of disposing of non-biodegradable materials. There following are critical points and recommendations that have been designed throughout the process of setting up reverse logistics systems (Donnahoe, 2012). Allocate a reverse logistics officer-in-charge and non-commissioned officer-in-charge. Train to comprehend the reverse logistics process, and Examining the FOB for scrap wood and metal bins and replace them accordingly. Finally, train all tenant units on DLA and HAZMAT turn-in procedures.

Defense Logistics Agency

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLS) permits civilian businesses and military workers to buy army gear that has been replaced, used or obsolete (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The DLA disposition service serves as a recycling avenue for all military assets that have passed their product life cycle and cannot be used to back operational activities (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The Defense Logistics Agency approximates issues and receipts workload for its distribution agency to maintain adequate staffing levels, and set proper rates for consumers. The DLA charges its clients based on the issue or receipt of goods from its distribution centers (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013).

Blunt Island Command

The essence of having a military command at Blunt Island is due to maritime prepositioning (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The significance of prepositioning programs to the defense of America has been illustrated several times since their inception; highlighted during the contingency operations, but also most perceptibly, during nearly a lot of other smaller-scale contingencies and humanitarian relief operations. The Blunt Island Command does not only support forward logistical operations but also functions as an offloading site for Marine Corps assets during the retrograde missions (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The significance of having a central hub where assets can be offloaded and than intermodal transportation infrastructure utilized to deliver assets to the point of origin is the redistribution of those assets. During combat operations, assets, like vehicles will remain in the theater until the retrograde operation is implemented (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013).

Three Best Practices of Reverse of Logistics in the Military

There are five military deployment objectives; Rapid deployment capabilities that reduce the in-transit of the assets. Real-time contact and visualization in a distributed transportation infrastructure, absolute asset visibility from based on the area of operations, and integration of planning, implementation, and training within similar systems (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). Finally, adaptability to connect into commercial transportation infrastructure. All these five objectives must be addressed for there to be a success in any retrograde operations (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013).

The application of technology in logistical operations within the military service plays an essential role in the military reverse logistics process. The use of different innovations allows the fulfillment of the core objectives of reverse logistics attainable (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The objectives of military reverse logistics are visibility, obviousness, and reliability (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The application of adequate technology will permit unit commanders to follow assets through the reverse logistics pipeline, handing them visibility, and they will also be able to gauge when those assets will reach at the destination with a huge amount of certainty (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). There are several types of innovations used by the Department of Defense and the military in the U.S.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

RFID is an innovative technology that allows military logistics personnel to synthesize and merge end-to-end data about their assets (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The purpose of the technology is to offer visibility on all assets while progressing with the supply chain and most evidently reverse supply chain. For example, the best time of using it is when assets are heading towards the same warehouse locations. RFID utilizes tags and interrogators (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). This technology can also be used in cargo tracking, vehicle tracking, bonded cargo, help warehouse management operations.

Global Command and Control System

This an automated data system meant to support deliberate and crisis planning with the application of an integrated set of analytical tools and flexible data transfer capabilities (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). The system can be used to redistribute equipment to other units (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013).

AALPS and ICODES

The Automated Air Load Planning System is used by all elements of the Department of Defense and the Military system to execute load plans for all types of military aircraft (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). It also allows the users at the unit section to plan reverse logistics using the most efficient resources. This process also allows the military to assess the cost efficacy of reverse logistics planning by assessing the load plans that were initiated (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013). On the other hand, the ICODES is used for all movement that includes air, water, and rail (Galowitch & Gordon, 2013).

Advantages of Logistics or Reverse Logistics in the US Military

The primary merits of using reverse logistics in the context of the US military are a reduction in the use of hazardous toxic materials that may be harmful to the environment. For instance, the recycling of aluminum may only need 5 percent more energy than processing the same number of primary aluminum core (Grabara et al., 2014). By implementing reverse logistics, the US military organizations can reduce energy consumption, emit fewer pollutants into air and water, save water, and natural resources. The other advantage is proper implementation of reverse logistics plans will help in increasing the deployment capacities that reduce the in-transit time of the assets, the total asset visibility from base to the area of operation, and implementation of planning, execution, and logistics training within the same system (Grabara et al., 2014). Integration of the Army's forward and reverse pipelines provides better performance, and perhaps cost savings (Diener et al., 2004). However, the economics of volume can only be achieved by combining some of the reverse and forward flow and also using the significant competencies of different agencies like DLA distribution centers (Diener et al., 2004).

Disadvantages of Reverse Logistics in the US Military

Managing the logistical costs of a military is already a challenging task. The factor of the cost involves several sub-items; the cost of resources, cost-benefit challenges, asset value for return, and operating costs. Demand is uneven and hard ascertain (Huscroft Jr, 2010). Notwithstanding the many advantages of reverse logistics in military systems, military coordination with potential partners in the humanitarian crisis is often difficult. Particularly at the coordinational level, integration among NGOs, International Organizations (IO), and military forces lack control (Heaslip, 2012). This challenge is compounded by the fact that most organizations do not have organized and well-structured working relationships with one another.

To successful stage, its response, the military, and humanitarian agencies need to organize their activities with other humanitarian organizations, and critical stakeholders to manage effectively, and dispense equitable resources to vulnerable groups (Heaslip, 2012). Another challenge is the needed assessment. From the perspective of the logistician, achieving a timely evaluation of the needs of the impacted population is critical to developing an efficient and effective supply chain framework (Heaslip, 2012). In humanitarian crises, uncertainty can arise from several facets, such as the organization itself or the scope of demand. For instance, ambiguity may arise from inner traits, such as what and how much the material is demand, product traits, process variations, and supply challenges (Heaslip, 2012). Finally, another major challenge of reverse logistics is poor communication. Because where there are inadequate communication re...