DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

THE NATION’S COMBAT LOGISTICS SUPPORT AGENCY

WARFIGHTER FIRST

Source Sampling 

Modernization 

Jamie Hieber, Lab Manager

DLA Product Test Center — Analytical

November 07, 2019
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Background

• Submit 1 in 10 lots to C&T laboratory

• Lot failed  Unreliable Status

• 3 consecutive lots to exit Unreliable Status

• Contractors chose to wait and did NOT ship goods

1980s 1991 1990s 2002 2010s
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Background

• Source Sampling Program begins

• Government reviews test reports

• No regular verification schedule

• Contractor’s test results primary

• Goal  Reduce contractor’s delayed shipments

1980s 1991 1990s 2002 2010s
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Background

• Poor communication of program requirements

• Ineffective enforcement of lot notification timeline

• Ineffective enforcement of test report submission timelines

• Difficult to communicate testing requirements uniformly across 

the supply chain

• Difficult to conduct trend analyses

• Siloed viewpoint rather than broad overview

Program requirements found in the Additional Quality Assurance 

Requirements (AQAR), formerly DSCPM 4155.3
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Purpose

• Currently the program is reliant on a “paper-based” system using 

email and faxed submittals using various electronic formats or hand- written forms. Current processes also rely on manual review and sign 

off steps. 

• New technologies offer great efficiencies for suppliers, labs, and PTC 

to automate procedures, enabling consistent data forms and reports.

• DLA is adapting a commercially available technology for our needs, 

transitioning from a manual review process to an electronic, data 

driven process. 

• This effort will enable DLA Troop Support to:

- strengthen its partnership and communication with the Clothing & Textile 

industrial base, and 

- increase the visibility of material and end item quality requirements. 

As a result, DLA Troop Support and its industrial base will increase its 

capability to deliver the highest quality clothing and individual equipment 

items to the warfighter.
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Purpose:

• Reengineer and automate manufacturers’ 

source production lot test reporting

• Streamline DLA PTC review and analysis of 

test results

Benefits: 

• Automated identification of non-conforming material 

• Standardized process and formats for test result 

submittal

• Higher quality C&T products for the warfighter

Technical Approach:

• Reengineer processes, develop protocols

• Leverage/validate adopted commercial procedures for 

proper communication and management of product test 

data

• Identify, tailor and validate COTS software for PTC 

application

Collaborative Partners: LMI, Texbase, 

Major Fabric Suppliers

DLA Sponsor: DLA MUST Program and 

DLA Product Test Center - Analytical

Product Test Center — Analytical 

~ 15K Test Reports /year

~10K Shade ~5K Source/Correlation/ 

Verification Testing

>4K Fabric < 1K Other
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Description of Automated Solution 

• The Product Test Center has embarked on a modernization 

program to streamline processes and update its systems to 

maintain the quality control of materials used to construct 

clothing and equipment for today’s warfighter.

• The MUST Source Sampling Tool is a commercially available 

textile testing and supplier collaboration system that has been 

modified to meet the specific workflow requirements of the 

DLA supply chain. 

• The MUST Source Sampling Tool merges Prime Contractors, 

Material Suppliers and Independent Testing Labs into one 

standardized system.
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Intro to Source Sampling Tool

• Easy to use browser-based system (no software to install)

• Benefits include:

- Standardized workflow

- Standardized testing procedures

- Digitizing data 

- Automated notification and PTC response of source lot testing 

date/enforcement of 14 day waiting period

- Visibility to current testing requirements

- Automatic evaluation of test results versus test requirements

- Ability to re-use previously entered data

- Automated creation and archiving of standard DD1222

- Automated event notifications for all members of the supply chain
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Overview of Source Sampling Tool 

Capabilities

Below is an example of Testing Requirements:
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Overview of Source Sampling Tool 

Capabilities

• Data is added to Excel 

and uploaded to the tool 

which automatically 

creates lab tests in the 

system and compares 

results to expected values 

on test requirements.
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Overview of Source Sampling Tool 

Capabilities
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Overview of Source Sampling Tool 

Capabilities

Test results are summarized to expedite review:
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Overview of Source Sampling Tool 

Capabilities

• DD1222s are created and 

archived within the tool 

and can be downloaded 

or printed.
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Challenges to Overcome

• Resistance to change

- Current DLA process is inefficient and needs to change

- Suppliers individually optimized

• Fear of the unknown

- Education on the use of the tool

• Dual Entry

- Understand how the tool works and see how it can reduce the work 

currently being done

• Concern for increased oversight

- Streamlined processes equate to reduced costs and increased quality
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Source Sampling Tool Roll-Out

1. Continue Final Phase of Development

2. On-board Combat/Utility Uniform fabrics suppliers and 

primes

3. On-board fabric suppliers to submit all fabric reports through 

the system

4. Focus on high volume fabric suppliers

5. When on-boarding the fabric suppliers, include their 

associated primes

6. Considerations for timing supplier on-boarding

1. Past engagement with Source Sampling Tool User Eval

2. Past engagement with R&D/PTC efforts

3. Stability

7. PTC will contact participants prior to on-boarding 

coordination
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PTC Source Sampling Roll Out Plan – Step 1

BDU Items

Description J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

Final Modifications and Demos

Addition of BDUs Supplier/Primes

 a) Internal Assessment Using Actual BDU Data

 b) Training of BDU Suppliers and Primes

 c) Onboarding BDU Suppliers and Primes

Phase 1 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Phase 2 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Support Suppliers Already Engaged

2019 2020 2021

Recent Fabric 

Suppliers

Brittany

Carlisle Finishing

Santee

Bennettsville

Pinebelt/Warmkraft

NIB

Excel Garment

UNICOR

Golden Manufacturing

Creighton

Tullahoma

Coachys and Associates

Sterlingwear of Boston

Campbellsville Apparel

Industrial Wholesalers

Silver Oak Leaf

SNC Manufacturing

Aurora Industries

Bluewater Defense

Puerto Rico Apparel

Short Bark Industries

American Apparel

Pentaq Manufacturing

M&M Manufacturing

Bethel Industries

Goodwill Industries

Bernard Cap

SEKRI

Recent 

Primes
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PTC Source Sampling Roll Out Plan – Step 2

1st Wave of Fabric Suppliers/Finishers

Description J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

Final Modifications and Demos

Addition of BDUs Supplier/Primes

 a) Internal Assessment Using Actual BDU Data

 b) Training of BDU Suppliers and Primes

 c) Onboarding BDU Suppliers and Primes

Phase 1 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Phase 2 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Support Suppliers Already Engaged

2019 2020 2021

1) Kenyon

2) Milliken

3) Deer Creek

4) Raeford 

5) Warmkraft/Pinebelt
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PTC Source Sampling Roll Out Plan – Step 3

2nd Wave of Fabric Suppliers/Finishers

Description J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

Final Modifications and Demos

Addition of BDUs Supplier/Primes

 a) Internal Assessment Using Actual BDU Data

 b) Training of BDU Suppliers and Primes

 c) Onboarding BDU Suppliers and Primes

Phase 1 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Phase 2 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Support Suppliers Already Engaged

2019 2020 2021

1) Brittany 

2) Santee 

3) Carlisle 

4) Bennettsville 

5) Polartec (Milliken)

6) WL Gore
WARFIGHTER FIRST

PTC Source Sampling Tool

Roll Out Plan 

Description J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

Final Modifications and Demos

Addition of BDUs Supplier/Primes

 a) Internal Assessment Using Actual BDU Data

 b) Training of BDU Suppliers and Primes

 c) Onboarding BDU Suppliers and Primes

Phase 1 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Phase 2 of Major Fabric Suppliers and Primes

Support Suppliers Already Engaged

2019 2020 2021

Recent Fabric/BDU Suppliers

Brittany

Carlisle Finishing

Santee

Bennettsville

Pinebelt/

Warmkraft

NIB

Excel Garment

UNICOR

Golden Mfg.

Creighton

Tullahoma

Coachys & Assoc.

Short Bark Ind.

American Appl.

Pentaq Mfg.

M&M Mfg.

Bethel Ind.

Goodwill Ind.

Bernard Cap

SEKRI

Recent End Item/BDU Primes

Suppliers planned for on-boarding account for 

> 93% of fabric test reports submitted to DLA PTC

Kenyon 

Milliken

Deer Creek

Burlington/Raeford

Polartec

WL Gore

Sterlingwear of Boston

Campbellsville Appl.

Industrial Wholesalers

SNC Mfg

Aurora Ind.

Bluewater Defense

Puerto Rico Appl

Silver Oak Leaf
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Expectations of Suppliers

• Use the tool

- Allows supplier earlier familiarity with PTC modernization effort

• Provide feedback (LOTS)

- Positive and Constructive Critiques

- Identify any shortfalls in capability

- Feedback to date has been instrumental in improving the tool and making it 

better.

• Possible process adjustments by the supplier