# Workflow changes at DLA Distribution Europe benefits customers, employees

/ Published Dec. 28, 2023
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
Jason Harper, receiving division chief, and Jered Biers, theater consolidation and shipping point chief, at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, Europe, both made process improvements to their respective departments making efficient timeliness and workflow.                 A mobile workstation for use in processing bulk shipments at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe. The low-cost solution reduces time in processing material and saves employees physical steps. Submitted photo.                            Workflow changes at DLA Distribution Europe benefits customers, employees                            A mobile workstation for use in processing bulk shipments at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe. The low-cost solution reduces time in processing material and saves employees physical steps. Submitted photo.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 231215-D-VQ057-0004

Harper initiated a process that examined the amount of time it took to process bulk delivery. From March 2022 to March 2023, employees at DDDE offloaded 550 bulk containers, with the number of bulk containers received rising from 64% to 81% from 2020 to 2023. Even though bulk containers comprise only 9% of the workload, the personnel required for this operation pulled employees away from other areas.

That process identified the root issue – employees having to walk back and forth from where they were processing material to workstations. By using mobile carts as workstations employees saved 120 physical steps for each receipt.

Harper used a low-cost solution which not only saved critical time, but reduced physical steps taken by his fellow employees. DDDE can now process 840 containers with 6,500 receipts per year, an increase of 54%.

Biers observed that trucks were remaining on-site longer than they should and examined ways to reduce load time of those trucks that would lead to less time on-site. He established a goal to improve the loading process and have trucks loaded within 80 minutes, resulting in a total on-site time of two hours for trucks.                 Jered Biers, theater consolidation and shipping point division chief, stands near material handling equipment at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe. Biers implemented a continuous process improvement which reduced on-site truck time and increased the number of tucks DDDE can receive per year. Submitted photo.                            Workflow changes at DLA Distribution Europe benefits customers, employees                            Jered Biers, theater consolidation and shipping point division chief, stands near material handling equipment at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe. Biers implemented a continuous process improvement which reduced on-site truck time and increased the number of tucks DDDE can receive per year. Submitted photo.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 231215-D-VQ057-0001

To reduce the on-site time and increase the speed of services, Biers initiated a shift in responsibilities of all hands involved in the loading process, and at multiple levels of management. By shifting some of the duties to managers and supervisors it allowed the loading team to focus solely on quickly and accurately loading a truck, eliminating multiple return trips to workstations.                 Jimmy Taylor, material examiner and identifier at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe, uses one of the mobile workstations to process incoming material from a bulk shipment. Previously, employees would have to walk 120 steps to a workstation to print out required material and conduct research. Submitted photo.                            Workflow changes at DLA Distribution Europe benefits customers, employees                            Jimmy Taylor, material examiner and identifier at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Europe, uses one of the mobile workstations to process incoming material from a bulk shipment. Previously, employees would have to walk 120 steps to a workstation to print out required material and conduct research. Submitted photo.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 231215-D-VQ057-0002

The process improvement to loading dedicated trucks saw a 25% reduction in load times, reducing driver wait fees and increasing output capacity from 4,700 trucks per year to 5,900 trucks per year. It also saved employees multiple trips to workstations.

“Both managers, Jason Harper and Jered Biers, exemplify what Distribution looks for in management,” said Sherry McClintock-Amrhein, program manager of continuous process improvement. “People who have the forethought and desire to work with their employees to evaluate the operation and improve not only for the customer, but for their team members as well.” 

The deliberate and thoughtful process of Harper and Biers to improve operations, while at the same time considering their employees, is a perfect of example of leading the way in warfighter support.