# IH employee singled out from 27,000 as strategic contributor 

/ Published June 16, 2017
PHILADELPHIA, 
An Industrial Hardware supply systems analyst was recognized as a Defense Logistics Agency Director’s Strategic Goal award winner for the first fiscal quarter of 2017 during a ceremony in DLA Troop Support’s auditorium June 6.

Of the agency’s approximately 27,000 employees, then-DLA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Andy Busch selected Deborah Cromwell-Bush for her contributions to the agency’s strategic goal of Process Excellence. 

The award recognized Cromwell-Bush’s design of four centralized, user friendly Microsoft Access databases to track, categorize and efficiently manage contracting workloads within the DLA Troop Support Industrial Hardware supply chain.

According to the supply chain’s management, the post award database helps employees better track the status of open and delinquent purchase orders for industrial hardware used throughout the Department of Defense. 

“Deborah takes on the tough tasks of investigating complicated issues and never backs down from going to great lengths for resolution,” said Andrea Woodring, Industrial Hardware Supply Division chief. 

Three other databases that Cromwell-Bush designed have also made a significant impact, said Edward Lees, Cromwell-Bush’s supervisor. The inventory records management database helps the supply chain better track supplies in depots and military facilities throughout the world, integrating data from multiple records sources.

Her quality notice database manages quality control information about hardware supplied not only to U.S. forces at home and abroad, but to foreign militaries as well through the foreign military sales program. Lastly, Cromwell-Bush’s stock transfer order database helps better organize contract histories and invoices to expedite the resolution of outstanding or new issues.

“Debbie’s leadership skills, efforts to improve operations and system knowledge made her an outstanding candidate for the Director's Strategic Goals Award in the Process Excellence focus area,” said Lees, supervisory supply support specialist.

Cromwell-Bush described some of her thoughts on process excellence.

“When I see a need for improvement in a process or an area that requires increased management visibility, I immediately ask myself, ‘what would improve this process? What will help the end user performing the task?’” she said.

Beyond the database contributions, Lees detailed Cromwell-Bush’s leadership and commitment to ensuring Industrial Hardware remains ready for future audits. 

“Debbie has proven herself to be the expert in her field here at Troop Support and can always be counted on to produce top-notch results, both on time and accurately,” said Lees.   

Due to Cromwell-Bush’s perseverance in the processes of research, findings, corrective actions and documentation, Lees said, Industrial Hardware received a 100 percent acceptance rating during a September 2016 audit. The audit required 100 percent compliance on documentation and records management.

“She is a key leader for her team,” said Lees. Further, she “voluntarily provides a great deal of her time teaching and mentoring new members of her team to ensure an effective and efficient workforce for the future.”