Training in commercial logistics practices to improve inventory management in the Army
By: Leonard T. Steiner
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Number of pages: 99
Subjects: United States. Dept. of Defense; Management; Business logistics; Supplies and stores; Inventory control; United States; Procurement; United States. Dept. of the Army; United States. Army
Description: The Department of Defense (DoD) and private firms share a common set of logistical challenges. Rising costs, external pressures, new technology, and other factors have focused attention on improving logistics management. GAO believes top management support and training are fundamental to improving economy and efficiency for DoD's inventory management system. This thesis examines current inventory management training and policies for secondary item inventories used by the Department of the Army to determine the potential impact of increased training in commercial logistics practices on Army inventory management.  The study briefly describes the Army Supply System, evaluates current performance, reveals current training practices, discusses commercial logistics practices, and identifies the key factors required for implementation of commercial logistics practices. These key factors form the basis for a comparison between the public and private sectors. Finally, McCaskey's model of organizational behavior is used to assess the potential for increased performance through training in commercial logistics practices. This study concludes that training in commercial logistics practices will not improve the inventory management system. There are inherent differences in the political, economic, legal, and social environment that must be addressed first.
Notes: "December 1996."

Thesis advisor(s): Paul J. Fields and Keebom Kang.

Thesis (M.S. in Management) Naval Postgraduate School, December 1996.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89).

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

US Army (USA) author.

#32768003309857 (c.2) reinstated DK 02/09/98.

dk/dk cc:9116 07/25/97.  Record updated 02/23/05.  PA