# DLA Logistics Operations chief visits DLA Distribution Headquarters

/ Published June 21, 2022
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution is posturing for success —lowering costs and increasing productivity, the leadership team told Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble during his inaugural visit to Defense Logistics Agency Distribution as DLA’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support.

Noble and Patrick Kelleher, DLA executive director of Operations and Sustainment, received a command overview from Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Keith D. Reventlow and his leadership team, followed by a tour of DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania’s Eastern Distribution Center.

“This was a great opportunity to talk about all the important work happening here at DLA Distribution,” Noble said. “We’re moving quickly on deploying the Warehouse Management System, which is a big shift in the way this team does business across our warehouses, and it’s crucial that we’re all in sync.”                  Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, right, Defense Logistics Agency’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support, tours DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2022. Tim Kosky, modernization project manager at DDSP, describes the current state of the Eastern Distribution Center’s modernization project. Photo by Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public Affairs.                            DLA Logistics Operations chief visits DLA Distribution Headquarters                            Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, right, Defense Logistics Agency’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support, tours DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2022. Tim Kosky, modernization project manager at DDSP, describes the current state of the Eastern Distribution Center’s modernization project. Photo by Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public Affairs.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 220513-D-KL823-9733

The Distribution team provided an in-depth look at support provided to warfighter readiness, highlighting the themes for future success as modernization, network optimization and policy changes to decrease costs and increase productivity throughout DLA Distribution’s worldwide network.                 As Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, right, Defense Logistics Agency’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support, tours DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2022, Jenny Potts, DDSP supervisor, explains the storage of bulk material at the New Cumberland and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania warehouses. Photo by Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public Affairs.                            DLA Logistics Operations chief visits DLA Distribution Headquarters                            As Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, right, Defense Logistics Agency’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support, tours DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2022, Jenny Potts, DDSP supervisor, explains the storage of bulk material at the New Cumberland and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania warehouses. Photo by Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public Affairs.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 220513-D-KL823-9731

Optimizing the workforce, transportation, processes, infrastructure and technology and a new warehouse management system will help posture DLA Distribution for success. The WMS replaces a 1950’s era system, using a goods to person strategy, that delivers material to workstations, rather than employees traveling to multiple locations. The WMS also assists supervisors with managing and assigning workload and verifying that picks have been completed properly. 

Since Dec. 2021, a new policy change directs all overseas military equipment repair parts and components to ship out from the Eastern Distribution Center in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, ensuring the warfighter receives equipment repair material where and when they need it. In addition to improving global material availability, the change has already saved the agency $200 million in inventory costs. 

Supporting the agency’s tenant of, “warfighter first, people always,” DLA Distribution is looking at stock relocation throughout the network, using existing infrastructure to optimize storage capacity for the warfighters’ most active material, while modernizing and implementing ergonomic, wireless and mobile technologies to assist workers. The mobile technology is currently in use at nine of the 24 distribution centers and is already showing a 30% increase in productivity. 

During a walking tour of the $200 million modernization effort at the Eastern Distribution Center,  Noble saw the wireless voice pick equipment and the initial phase of a new automated receiving platform that will lead material to a buffer system, then to a seven-story storage area, controlled by artificial intelligence. The effort will triple the number of items picked each hour, provide employees with a more ergonomic work environment and improve order accuracy.                   Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, second from right, Defense Logistics Agency’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support, Patrick Kelleher, DLA executive director of Operations and Sustainment, second from left and Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Keith D. Reventlow, right, DLA Distribution commanding general, tour DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2022. Mandy Brechbill, left, DLA Distribution supply management specialist, describes the cost savings and inventory accuracy improvements for material ordered in quantity unit pack rather than unit of issue.                            DLA Logistics Operations chief visits DLA Distribution Headquarters                            Navy Rear Adm. Doug Noble, second from right, Defense Logistics Agency’s director of Logistics Operations and commander of Joint Regional Combat Support, Patrick Kelleher, DLA executive director of Operations and Sustainment, second from left and Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Keith D. Reventlow, right, DLA Distribution commanding general, tour DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, May 13, 2022. Mandy Brechbill, left, DLA Distribution supply management specialist, describes the cost savings and inventory accuracy improvements for material ordered in quantity unit pack rather than unit of issue.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 220513-D-KL823-9768

While DLA Distribution is implementing changes at their level, they also look to DLA Headquarters to partner in other policy and process changes for overall agency success.