About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

GAO-12-883R 1 (2012-08-03)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacgkg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: GAO ~~JjccoutabIIty * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 August 3, 2012 The Honorable Carl Levin Chairman The Honorable John McCain Ranking Member Committee on Armed Services United States Senate The Honorable Howard P. McKeon Chairman The Honorable Adam Smith Ranking Member Committee on Armed Services House of Representatives Subject: Defense Logistics: DOD Has Taken Actions to Improve Some Segments of the Materiel Distribution System The Department of Defense (DOD) operates a complex, multibillion-dollar distribution system for delivering needed supplies and equipment to U.S. forces across the world. DOD's goal in operating its global distribution system is to deliver the right item to the right place at the right time, and also at the right cost. The materiel distribution system covers multiple legs, from the movement of supplies in the continental United States to tactical movement on the battlefield, and must be capable of reaching its military customers whether they are located on large, well- established bases or at small, remote outposts. As we have reported, the federal government is facing serious long-term fiscal challenges, and DOD may confront increased competition over the next decade for federal discretionary funds.1 Given the fiscal environment DOD must operate in now and into the future, the distribution of supplies and equipment to the warfighter must be performed as effectively and efficiently as possible to ensure the best use of limited resources. Strategic guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense in January 2012 emphasized that DOD must continue to reduce the cost of doing business, in particular finding further efficiencies in overhead, business practices, and support activities.2 Since 1990, GAO has identified DOD supply chain management as a high-risk area, with materiel distribution as one focus area for improvement.3 Our prior work, for example, has 1GAO, The Federal Government's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2010 Update, GAO-1 0-468SP (Washington, D.C.: March 2010); and 21st Century Challenges: Reexamining the Base of the Federal Government, GAO-05- 325SP (Washington, D.C.: February 2005). 2Department of Defense, Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense (Jan. 5, 2012). 3This high-risk area was originally identified in 1990 as DOD inventory management. In 2005, it was expanded to DOD's management of its entire supply chain, which includes three focus areas for improvement: requirements GAO-12-883R Defense Logistics Page 1

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most