By Michael P. Kleiman U.S. Transportation Command
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Dec. 13, 2017 — U.S.
Transportation Command has completed a proof-of-principle effort that fused an
off-the-shelf commercial transportation management system capability with government-integrated
platforms.
A TMS allows users to plan and execute the shipment of cargo
of any kind more efficiently, reliably and cost effectively. The new system has
the potential to substantially increase Transcom’s ability to manage its
logistics enterprise by delivering enhanced air, sea, and land movement
solutions, as well as real-time visibility of cargo from point of origin to
destination.
Testing New System
The proof-of-principle process started on Aug. 7, and during
the next four months the TMS team, along with the command’s components, worked
with industry and subject experts from across the joint deployment and
distribution enterprise.
Together, they identified capabilities within numerous
scenarios to “stress” a TMS and also validated that the system would support
the command’s transportation requirements.
Ultimately, the command’s employment of TMS smartly
leverages enterprise technologies to maintain America’s competitive advantage
in logistics operations.
Transcom’s TMS journey demonstrated that the new system:
-- Brings people, processes, technology, and data together
across the organizational enterprise;
-- Provides management and visibility of all transportation
requirements and shipments in one system for optimized planning, including
real-time deviation alerts and the ability to replan; and
-- Delivers the capacity for cost-informed options and
end-to-end shipment financial visibility for fiscal improvement and
audit-readiness compliance in a single system.
“The world we live in today demands we do things differently
than what was done yesterday. The pace of technology and information, as well
as the changing character of war, will not wait for us to catch up,” said Air
Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, Transcom’s commander. “TMS supports the command’s
effort to evolve for tomorrow, by enhancing our operational processes and
supporting information technology to conduct efficient and effective multimodal
operations while providing proven, end-to-end best-practice transportation
solutions.”
After the 2016 alternatives decision to the Joint
Staff-approved program, integrated multimodal operations, which evaluated
readiness, life-cycle costs, and risks, the command subsequently identified TMS
as the preferred solution from five options.
Six months later, McDew directed the formation of a TMS
joint planning team to rapidly conduct a 120-day proof of principle of the TMS
and government off-the-shelf systems, assessing its ability to perform global
transportation-management functions. He charged the team to strain the system,
stating, “If it’s going to break, let’s break it fast.”
Successful Demonstration
Following a successful system demonstration on Dec. 1, 2017,
Transcom Deputy Commander Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Broadmeadow subsequently
directed the command to move forward in establishing a joint integrated product
team to develop a TMS prototype.
“The TMS is not just an internal solution for the command,
but it will redefine how we do business on a global scale,” said Air Force
Brig. Gen. John C. Millard, the command’s TMS joint planning team lead. “In
implementing the TMS prototype, Transcom capabilities and information resident
in today’s existing systems will be leveraged to ensure success.”
During the upcoming months, Transcom’s joint integrated
product team will partner with key strategic stakeholders, customers, and
transportation partners to create and execute a detailed implementation plan
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