# Modernization helps South East team persevere through 2023

/ Published Dec. 1, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., 
The Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services sites throughout the South East region are turning the page on a year that included modernization, increased efficiencies and perseverance throughout its field sites.

One of the largest and most impactful initiatives throughout the agency is the switch from the Distribution Standard System to the Warehouse Management System. This process began in January of 2023 and will continue being implemented across DLA until 2025. South East is nearing the end of its transition to the new system and closes out with one of its largest sites next month.

“Currently all but three of the sites in the South East are using WMS,” South East Region’s Deputy Director Audrey Weber said. “It was initially a challenge, because change is not always embraced, but we have seen people adapt and become proficient in the process and able to train new employees on WMS.  It won’t be long before DSS is a memory, just like DAISY.”

Just as new employees are acclimating to the revamped warehouse operations, members of the DLA Pathways to Career Excellence Program were able to familiarize themselves with field site operations for the first time. Anniston, Alabama, and the Jacksonville, Florida, sites hosted PaCERs as part of a new initiative to gain operational insight on overall field activities.

“Opening our doors to the PaCER participants had [tremendous] benefits to Disposition Services,” Weber said. “Visits to the DEMIL site at Anniston were eye opening for every visitor, because they were able to see what happens to the items they ship for destruction.”

The region made strides not only with ways to improve personnel performance through training but also with facility upgrades. Multiple construction projects at the Eglin field site – including new racking, floor improvements and fire suppression system upgrades – contributed to the $7.8M renovations. The Anniston site removed multiple buildings and laid over 60 trucks worth of concrete. These are only a few examples of ways the agency is helping to increase the productivity and safety of each site through streamlining processes.

“More efficient processes will be one of the results of the construction,” Weber said. “Instead of working around the structural and logistical challenges in the facility we now have workspaces that better fit the property disposal process. Also, new facilities are a real morale booster because a bright, fresh, safer workspace shows a commitment by management to the employees.” 

Not only is the agency committed to its employees but also to the surrounding communities as evidence by the support provided in response to Hurricane Ian. In the aftermath of this natural disaster, Disposition Services helped potentially lifesaving efforts by providing reutilized equipment.

“We should never lose sight of why federal excess equipment is so valuable to our citizens,” said John Kelley, a property consultant with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “After Hurricane Ian multiple rescues were made using federal excess high-water vehicles in Manatee County Florida. Thanks to all who participate in this program, from the DLA sites to the cooperators who receive, maintain and use this equipment to serve our people.” 

Through all of these efforts, the South East team has persevered to meet all mission requirements despite the high ops tempo and personnel challenges.

“Working through change – not only WMS and construction, but there was a lot of turnover in the Wage Supervisors at various sites and multiple times within one site,” Weber said. “The wage grade turnover was also high – we were hiring almost weekly at some sites.”

Despite the turnover, Weber’s team continues to make strides helping Disposition Services to remain the nation’s reverse logistics center of excellence today as well as going forward into the future.