# R&D Logistics Technology Research

/ Published July 26, 2023

                Logistics Technology Research                            Logistics Technology Research                            Logistics Technology Research information paper            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Amber McSherryVIRIN: 200924-D-HW629-069

DLA Research & Development's Logistics Technology Research program supports DLA business functional units through applied research of advanced technologies to improve business processes and operational methods. The LTR program leverages the application of leading-edge logistics “out-of-the box” concepts using business tools driven by disruptive technology to provide global logistics support.

The LTR program focuses on:

**Business Processes**DLA’s processes are often inefficient due to manual processes and outdated technologies. Key decision points such as planning inventory levels, on-boarding vendors, and accepting in-coming material may have errors or inefficiencies that disrupt the supply chain.

**Supply Chain Risks**DLA is challenged daily to identify and mitigate risks to the supply chain –everything from diminishing manufacturing sources for older weapon systems to poorly managed vendors providing sub-standard parts or bad actors providing counterfeits.

**Commercial Industry Opportunities**DLA needs to incorporate advances in commercial best practices. Leveraging existing commercial capabilities will enable rapid process transition upon full scale implementation.

## Innovation & Technology

      - Data quality and governance
      - Artificial intelligence/machine learning: business use cases
      - Distributed ledger technology: sharing data across DLA and vendors - currently developing use cases
      - Supply chain risk management – risk information and analysis
      - COTS, SAAS, PAAS, AAAS business solutions
      - Digital Twins

## Strategic Thrusts

      - Applied research for incorporating emerging technologies across DLA core business processes
      - Identify and mitigate risks across the supply chain
      - Leverage commercial best practices

## Challenge

The challenge is to balance the need to sustain legacy systems to maintain the supply chain and continue support to the business functional areas, while transitioning to new technologies.

## Solution

The LTR program leverages advanced technologies to shape business process and ensure supply chain security across the DLA network.

## Benefits

      - Ensure warfighter safety and weapon system performance through reliability of DLA provided parts and a secure supply chain.
      - Anticipate warfighter requirements by combining big data, predictive analytics, and automation.

## Partners

      - Commercial Industries
      - Federally Funded Research and Development Centers
      - University Affiliated Research Centers
      - Services and Federal Agencies
      - Naval Research Laboratories
      - Academia

## Accomplishments & Ongoing Efforts

      - Digital platforms to automate and secure key business processes that capture vendor data
      - Supply chain risk data identification and applications
      - Artificial Intelligence/machine learning projects to improve demand forecasting, lead time estimation, and backorder prediction use case development
      - Distributed ledger technology applications
      - Quantum computing capability assessment and planning for the future
      - Emergent anti-counterfeiting technologies
      - Metadata management and data quality platforms

### Contact Us - Logistics.Research@dla.mil