Strategies for Use in the Reduction of Supplier Risk: Inputs Into the Military Supply Chain

Introduction

The military and other related groups of law enforcement agencies use a variety of different items to support their aircraft travels and other related missions of their career. To support these activities, there must be a constant supply of all the necessary tools and equipment on a regular basis. For instance, the Air Force is one of the units within the security agents that make big use of aircraft services. In this case, most of the items, in this case, may have to be supplied because they need replacement and other related mechanical attention. Specifically, it is estimated that nearly 60,000 different items were identified in a critical analysis of annual requisitions of weapons and other related system components (Alicke & Forsting, 2017). Of these, it was further estimated that nearly three in four had no more in any way half-dozen of the total annual requisitions that were made. One can then imagine how critical the process is when it comes to allowing the normal military functions which in most cases are always aimed at providing peace and protecting a country of interest against both internal and external aggression.

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Just as there may be difficulties in obtaining more frequently ordered aircraft parts for the Air Force and other military personnel, as well as other items such as firearms, so does difficulties exist in obtaining low-demand parts. Also, the management of such parts can be quite a difficult process to handle and expensive for that case (Alicke & Forsting, 2017). A combination of all these factors makes up the military supply chain system. It bears a system of risk factors that must be well managed to ensure that there is an effective flow of goods and services to aid the military personnel in the various missions both internal and external of their home ground.

The military supply chainThe military supply chain system bears a detailed and comprehensive framework that uses a cross-functional approach that involves the processes of procurement, production, and delivery of products and services that are aimed at supporting military action. Therefore, the complex chain needs the cooperation of all stakeholders who are involved to ensure that there is effective management of the chain (Chan & Larsen, 2010). Once the system is affected in any way, delivery of products and services that are meant to aid military functions are compromised as well. In this case, one can imagine the nature of risks that are associated with a military service that cannot deliver its functions due to a system breakdown within the military supply chain.

The various stakeholders and parties involved in the supply chain system include the sub-suppliers, the suppliers, the fund flow, and the internal information. Proper coordination of all these parties must be made to ensure that no single factor affects the flow of goods and services to all military personnel (Chan & Larsen, 2010). When it comes to firearms, combat, food staff, and transport services, the military can never be compromised by a delay or dysfunction as this would influence the delivery of their mandate of protecting the country and the world at larger from any instances of aggression or attacks.

Objectives of the Study

The context of the study reflects upon the various risks that are associated with the military supply chain management system. In this case, any component that would compromise a function within the supply chain system would automatically qualify as a risk factor. The reason for developing a chain system is to ensure that there is an effective flow of goods and services that are needed by the military personnel without any form of disruption or delays. In situations where this is not the case, it would then mean that the system has been compromised by a risks factor that must be addressed without any form of delay.

To achieve a better understanding of the various risks factors and related mitigation strategies that can be advanced to solve the issues, the research must focus on the specific logistics that are involved in the military supply management system. Therefore, among the objectives of the study is to have a critical understating of all the logistics of the supply chain system (Cobb, 2014). This understanding will offer a way to reflect upon the various factors that would compromise these logistics. It is only through this understanding of the various risk factors that mitigation techniques can be suggested to address them and restore the normal functioning of the supply chain system back on track.

The objectives of the study can be summarized as:

• To determine the various components involved in the overall management of the military supply chain system
• To determine the various risk factors that would compromise the function of the military supply chain management
• To explain the various effects of the risk factors on the function of the military personnel
• To determine the strategies and mitigation techniques that can be advanced to ensure that such risks are eliminated

Reflecting upon the strategies in use for the supplier risks is a very critical process in the management of the chain. In this case, coming up with specific strategies must first begin with a detailed understanding of all the components that are involved in the supply chain system. Therefore, the objectives of the study offer a clear guideline with which all the factors that are associated with the supply of goods and services to the military personnel are addressed (Cobb, 2014). From this understanding, the various suggestions that would mitigate such risks can then be offered.

Hypothesis

The strategies for use in the reduction of supplier risks on the military supply chain management system are based on the logistics such as the transport of personnel, the existing design and development, acquisition and construction, storage and distribution, acquisition and furnishing of services, medical and health service support, and many others.

The hypothesis shapes the study to explore various components such as a critical look at the military supply chain system, the logistics involved in its management, the existing relationship between each of the critical logistic factors and the supply chain management, and the various limitations of the military supply chain ("Conceptual Frameworks for Supply Chain Management," 2010). Through such limitations, the study can come up with vulnerabilities within the system, which in turn display the various risk factors that must be discussed in detail to prove the hypothesis and topic of the study.

The transport of military personnel is very critical as one of the key logistic components. The forces have to be deployed in different parts of the world with various missions that have to be accomplished. In this case, there is a need to ensure that the management of transport affairs and the equipment to be used has been well planned from the documentation process to the final delivery stage. The equipment needed to ensure that the right tools and resources have been delivered to secure both air and rod transport has to be effectively managed ("Conceptual Frameworks for Supply Chain Management," 2010). This includes the use of fuel which in this case is financed by the state and other related logistics such as repair and Maintainance.

Medical and healthcare services for the military personnel are a serious logistic issue that comes as a priority over all other issues. The team has to be supplied with enough medical resources that can offer quality care for injured soldiers and other related medical concerns that may come up. Due to the nature of military work, it is normal to have most of them injured occasionally. For this reason, first aid services and other long-term medical interventions must be made available until the time the troops complete the various missions. Addressing medical concerns for the military is a logistic issue that affects the nation at large ("Evolution of Supply Chain Management (SCM)," 2010). It goes beyond the scope of offering simple and ready medical assurance to the men and women who have committed themselves to serve the country. It involves assuring their family members and loved ones of quality care through a series of medical insurance policies. The policies should aim at securing the medical health of soldiers by offering them the best medical packages possible for situations where they fall ill or get injured in the line of duty.

For the supply chain system and the issues of risk factors that may target its effectiveness, the main concept is distribution. There is a need to ensure that the...