Improving U.S. Coast Guard Inventory Management: Transferring Consumable Items toDefense Logistics Agency Management

摘要

Transferring Service-unique consumable items to Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)management presents the USCG an opportunity to progress toward major objectives laid out for its integrated logistics system in its business process redesign and organizational streamlining plans. DoD's consumable item transfer program originally attracted the USCG's attention as a potential resource savings initiative. In our initial task, we examined the cost of the USCG's managing its Service-unique items and the additional cost to the units from DLA's surcharge, and found the costs to be comparable. However, we also found there are benefits to the USCG from participating in the consumable item transfer program beyond those directly involving costs. We recommended the USCG implement the DoD consumable item transfer program as one element of a new and improved approach to providing consumable material to afloat and ashore units. Our second report, CG403MR2, Establishing a Comprehensive Consumable Item Management Strategy, April 1996 recommends a stockage decision logic, a management reporting scheme, and various materiel management initiatives to improve consumable item support for current and future equipment and systems. In this report, we address several policy issues perceived to be barriers to transferring items to DLA management. We recommend the course of action for the USCG to follow in resolving those issues. Additionally, we evaluate the current procedures for transferring consumable items and recommend changes to tailor those procedures to suit the USCG. We also provide a draft Memorandum of Understanding for the USCG to use in formalizing the process with DLA. For the items currently stocked by the USCG, we provide a plan and criteria for reviewing and selecting items for transfer.