# DLA WMS team meets at DLA Distribution Headquarters for WMS in-stride review

/ Published April 24, 2023
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
Defense Logistics Agency representatives from around the enterprise gathered at DLA Distribution Headquarters in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Mar. 14 - 15 for a Warehouse Management System in-stride review to discuss lessons learned after initial WMS go-live events at various DLA Distribution centers.                 Paul Fawcett of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, standing right, delivers administrative comments during the Warehouse Management System in-stride review for working groups at DLA Distribution headquarters March 15, 2023.                            DLA teams meet at DLA Distribution Headquarters for WMS In-Strid                            Paul Fawcett of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution, standing right, delivers administrative comments during the Warehouse Management System in-stride review for working groups at DLA Distribution headquarters March 15, 2023.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Diana DawaVIRIN: 230315-D-WD427-1872

DLA Distribution Deputy Commander Perry L. Knight, opened the two-day meeting with a call for candid discussion, asking DLA Headquarters and DLA Distribution teams from various departments to take a hard look at WMS change requests, how they’re prioritized, and challenged the team to get it right for employees and customers.  In particular, the team discussed how change requests in one area may directly affect other departments. The group also discussed tools to improve communication across the many areas involved in the agency-wide system change. 

Six DLA Distribution sites are now successfully operating in WMS: Corpus Christi, Texas, Whitehall, Ohio, Puget Sound, Washington, Albany, Georgia, Peal Harbor, Hawaii, and Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

The DLA Distribution locations to transition to WMS between now and September 2023 are Jacksonville, Mississippi, Red River, Texas, Bahrain and Cherry Point, North Carolina.                  Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Deputy Commander, Perry Knight, delivers closing comments during the Warehouse Management System in-stride review for working groups at DLA Distribution headquarters March 15, 2023.                            DLA teams meet at DLA Distribution Headquarters for WMS In-Strid                            Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Deputy Commander, Perry Knight, delivers closing comments during the Warehouse Management System in-stride review for working groups at DLA Distribution headquarters March 15, 2023.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Diana DawaVIRIN: 230315-D-WD427-1921

The plan is to have WMS operational at all distribution centers and customer locations before the end of fiscal year 2025. With the rollout at each location, the WMS system is continually tweaked to add new capabilities and new functions for locations that perform different missions, such as Material Processing Centers and kitting locations.  

WMS is a modernized warehouse management system using commercial, off-the-shelf software providing benefits ranging from improved productivity and streamlined processes geared to better achieve audit readiness and reporting capabilities between DLA and customers. Predictability and efficiency are also gained through automation tools such and computer-controlled systems that automatically place and retrieve material from storage locations. WMS is a state-of-the-art system that replaces DSS and will help employees work more efficiently and effectively.