Modernization through spares workshop hosted by TACOM

More than 120 representatives from Army acquisition organiza tions attended the second MTS workshop hosted by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), Warren, MI, March 25-26, 1998. The workshop was a continuation of efforts to implement the MTS concept and strategy that evolved from the first workshop held at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in May 1997.

The MTS concept became a reality because future Army funding may be insufficient for procuring new systems, which means that existing systems will have to remain in the inventory well beyond the intended service life. MTS is a spares acquisition strategy applied throughout the materiel acquisition process to reduce sustainment costs. It is based on technology insertion and use of commercial products, processes, and practices to extend a system's useful life. Although MTS is a recently coined term, it builds on the practices of value engineering, improved system reliability and resolving parts obsolescence. The new element is the concept of leveraging spare parts funding and acquisition to achieve modernization objectives.

The TACOM workshop was a specific response to the Jan. 12, 1998, Army tasking to program executive officers (PEOs) and Army major commands (MACOMs) to incorporate and report MTS strategies in their total life cycle management program. The MTS Overarching Integrated Process Team led the workshop, which focused on the important issues of logistics, resources, metrics, and tools. The tools topic refers to analytical techniques and models used to identify candidate spares within a targeted system. Workshop participants split into six groups, each addressing one of the focus issues, to explore barriers to MTS implementation and develop metrics. The groups discussed the many acquisition reform initiatives that can support MTS strategies, and examined current Army programs that demonstrate innovative methods for achieving MTS objectives.

The workshop concluded with each group summarizing its conclusions and presenting recommendations. The groups' comments will result in additional guidance to PEOs and MACOMs.

Complementing the workshop activities is a new training course that is currently being offered at several AMC sites (see the article that follows). The course is designed for acquisition personnel who are responsible for spares procurements.

An upcoming major MTS event will be the Acquisition and Logistics Conference, sponsored by the International Society of Logistics Engineers and the International Society of Value Engineers. The symposium will be held Nov. 1618, 1998, in Washington, DC, and will provide an opportunity for government and industry personnel to share ideas and solutions about modernizing an affordable Army.